Lit Apple Mac, iPhone, iPad User Group

[sultrysandy]

Tim Cook tweets in memory of Steve Jobs on 9th anniversary of Apple co-founder’s pass

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Tim Cook tweets in memory of Steve Jobs on 9th anniversary of Apple co-founder’s passing

Tim Cook has tweeted in memory of Steve Jobs, on the 9th anniversary of the passing of Apple’s co-founder, quoting poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.

“A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” — Maya Angelou. You’re always with us Steve, your memory connects and inspires us every day …

Fellow founder Steve Wozniak developed the Apple I computer and wanted to give away the plans for others to make their own. Steve Jobs instead persuaded him that they should form a company to sell it, resulting in what was then known as Apple Computer Company.

Only around 200 Apple I computers were ever sold, and the Apple II didn’t do much better initially. The computer was struggling to compete with the Commodore PET and Tandy TRS-80, and Apple sold only 600 machines in 1977. ArsTechnica recalls that it was an early business app that transformed the company’s fortunes.

What really turned the company around, however, was the release of the first ever “killer app.” This was VisiCalc, the original spreadsheet application, which was released in 1979. The author, Dan Bricklin, wrote it for the Apple ][ simply because that machine, borrowed from his publisher Dan Fylstra, was the only one he had available. A combination of great marketing and even better luck propelled the Apple ][ from an also-ran to a serious contender. In 1981 the company sold 210,000 units, leaving the PET in the dust and nearly equaling the TRS-80’s numbers.

Douglas Engelbart and William English co-invented the mouse and first demonstrated it way back in 1968. Xerox PARC used this pioneering work to develop the Alto and Star personal computers with a graphical user interface (GUI), but neither were commercially successful. It was Steve Jobs who saw the potential of the approach to revolutionize personal computing and turn it into a truly mass-market device. He struck a deal with PARC, offering pre-IPO shares in Apple.

Steve’s first attempt at a GUI based computer was the Lisa, which failed because it was far too expensive to see widespread adoption, but it led to the still expensive but considerably more affordable Macintosh, launched in 1984.

While received with much acclaim, the Macintosh had limited commercial success due to the very limited software available at the time. Then-CEO John Sculley wanted Apple to focus more of its efforts on the Apple II, while Jobs wanted to go all-out on marketing the Macintosh. It was that dispute which led to the infamous battle between the two – each trying to oust the other – and Steve resigning in 1985 to form NeXT.

Steve finally returned to Apple in 1996, when the company bought NeXT and the NeXTSTEP OS became the basis for Mac OS X. Steve greatly simplified the company’s messy Mac lineup, before leading it to move into new products with the massively-successful iPod, which was also the precursor to the company’s most successful product, the iPhone.

Steve was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, revealed it to Apple employees the following year. He Tim Cook to run the company as acting CEO in his absence, the position becoming permanent when Steve resigned as CEO in 2011, naming Cook as his successor. Steve passed away just six weeks later.

Apple created a ‘Remembering Steve‘ microsite which is still present today. Over a million people have posted in memory of Steve Jobs.









Sandy note -
Pier 1 Imports recently decided to close, the CEO saying it was the perfect storm, but not a word of failing management and continuously incurring additional debt, causing their failure. Macy's laid off thousands of employees, and at the same time gave bonuses to senior executives for failing performing their jobs which laid to the lay-offs.

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, it was hemorrhaging cash and was sinking. Instead of a big pay and compensation package, he was paid one dollar annually and given Apple stock. If the company failed he had nothing and he was only rewarded if he succeeded.

Don't get me wrong, he was not a saint to work with or for (actually was a prick at times), but wasn't in it for what he could get for himself.

Competitors were failing making PC's, in retail, software, and other areas. Apple released the iMac, it's retail stores, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, iPad, all sorts of software, along with some failures (i.e. the cube), and investors handsomely rewarded.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple officially announces iPhone 12 event for October 13: ‘Hi, Speed’

Apple today has officially announced its highly anticipated iPhone 12 event for October 13 at 10 a.m. PT. Much like WWDC 2020 and the September “Time Flies” event, the iPhone 12 announcement event will be completely virtual and streamed directly from Apple Park. Apple is teasing the event with the “Hi, Speed” tagline.


Apple October event details

This event will mark the second Apple event within the last month. On September 15, Apple held a virtual event to announce its latest Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6 hardware, alongside a new iPad Air and the 8th generation iPad, Apple Fitness+, and the Apple One services bundle.

The “Hi, Speed” tagline is a clear hint at the iPhone 12 and its expected 5G connectivity and A14 processor. The circular rings also resemble the Siri interface amid rumors of a smaller HomePod. Beyond that, the invite does not provide any other hints at what Apple could announce at the event.

Apple’s October event will be live-streamed across Apple’s website, in the Apple TV app, and likely on YouTube.


What to expect from the iPhone 12

At the October event, expect the primary focus to be on the iPhone 12 lineup. Apple is expected to unveil four new iPhone 12 models this year at an event in October: a 5.4-inch iPhone 12, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. The differentiating factor between these iPhone 12 models will be the camera technology.

The 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max are expected to feature dual-lens camera set-ups on the back, while the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will feature triple-lens camera arrays on the back with an all-new LiDAR Scanner as well.

Other features of the iPhone 12 lineup include OLED displays across the board as well as 5G connectivity. The iPhone 12 lineup will reportedly support mmWave 5G as well as sub-6GHz 5G. In terms of design, the devices are expected to feature flat edges similar to the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and the latest iPad Pro.

In terms of branding, there has been growing evidence of the likely names for this year’s iPhone lineup:

• iPhone 12 mini: 5.4-inch
  
  
• iPhone 12: 6.1-inch
  
  
• iPhone 12 Pro: 6.1-inch
  
  
• iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7-inch

While Apple will announce the iPhone 12 lineup during its October event, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all four models will be available in October. Reports currently indicate that Apple is planning a staggered release schedule for the iPhone 12, with some models potentially not being available until November.


Apple iPhone 12 event wrap-up

Outside of the iPhone 12, other possibilities for the October event include Apple’s AirPods Studio over-ear headphones, AirTag item trackers, a new Apple TV and Siri Remote, and news about the Apple Silicon transition for the Mac.
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[sultrysandy]

Facebook exec says ad-based businesses are ‘under assault’ by Apple’s privacy changes

Facebook has been complaining about Apple since the company introduced a new privacy feature in the iOS 14 beta that forces developers to ask users before tracking them across the web. David Fischer, Facebook’s chief revenue officer, now said that every business based on advertising is “under assault” by the changes imposed by Apple.

Fischer spoke in a virtual session of Advertising Week this Tuesday about Facebook’s vulnerability to companies like Apple and Google. During his speech, the Facebook executive argued that several businesses are being threatened by Apple’s new privacy rules.

And right now, frankly, some of that is under assault, that the very tools that entrepreneurs, that businesses are relying on right now are being threatened. To me, the changes that Apple has proposed, pretty sweeping changes, are going to hurt developers and businesses the most.

He also mentioned that Apple’s business model is about selling “luxury hardware” to those who can afford it, suggesting that advertisements make products and services more affordable for everyone.

That’s fine, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to then dictate that has to be other business models, and the one that we believe is so valuable, one that relies on advertising, in our case, personalized ads, to enable free products, enable businesses to launch and grow and thrive, we’re going to defend that. And we think it really important that not just we but our industry does that.

iOS 14 introduces a new privacy feature that makes it harder for apps to track users, which will directly impact apps and services that rely on advertising revenue — like any Facebook apps. The company has postponed the requirement to implement this new feature to 2021 after hearing feedback from developers.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri recently said during an interview that ad rates are expected to drop by up to 50% after Apple’s new privacy features are implemented, which will affect not only Instagram as a company but also content creators.

At least for now, despite the postponement, Apple doesn’t seem willing to give up its latest decisions on the new iOS 14 privacy features.
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sandy note -
Uh, will someone please explain to me how users having the option to stop apps from tracking them and stealing their info, as being under assault?

Quit whining you cry babies. Facebook and Google are the two biggest firms (Twitter is growing) stealing users' info without their consent, much less knowledge, for years, and they've been having a temper tantrum since WWDC.

Facebook is same as politicians playing semantics. "Cambridge-Anylitca did not hack our servers". Not they did not, you sold them access to tens of mullions of users data, which they then raped and pillaged before a whistle blower told some media firms.
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[Fingerfuxs]

Good afternoon Ms. Sandy

I know this post is off topic but you work so hard keeping this thread feed with information . My train of thought was , a kind thank you , using information I've learned how to do in the last month.

Thank you

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

sandy note -
Uh, will someone please explain to me how users having the option to stop apps from tracking them and stealing their info, as being under assault?

Here here!

 

[sultrysandy]

I know this post is off topic

Let's see, are you hojacking, trolling, spamming, slandering, or attacking the thread's topic. No
Are you participating? Yes

keeping this thread feed with information . My train of thought was , a kind thank you , using information I've learned how to do in the last month.

You're welcome. The information is available, however it's a matter of spending time and effort, weeding out the bullshit, and to think.

 

[sultrysandy]

Uh, will someone please explain to me how users having the option to stop apps from tracking them and stealing their info, as being under assault?

Here here!

As a child, what my Mom would tell me

 

[sultrysandy]

iMac inventory is becoming scarce

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Read as article about iMac deals and found a line interesting

New iMac inventory is already becoming scarce ahead of the holidays, with delivery dates at Apple now expected in early November.

While it is common for Apple to run inventory down before announcing new models, not saying this is the case, but it is seven weeks until Black Friday and you would think Apple be building inventory.
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[sultrysandy]

T2 security chip on Macs can be hacked to plant malware; cannot be patched

Speculation that the T2 security chip on modern Macs can be hacked has been confirmed by the team behind the research. A combination of two different exploits would give a hacker the ability to modify the behavior of the chip, and even plant malware like a keylogger inside it.

All Macs sold since 2018 contain the T2 chip, and because the attack uses code in the read-only memory section of the chip, there is no way for Apple to patch it …

How the T2 security chip exploit works

ZDNet reports that the attack involves using two exploits used to jailbreak iPhones. The reason they can also be used on Macs is because the T2 security chip is based on the A10 chip used in older iPhones.

The attack requires combining two other exploits that were initially used for jailbreaking iOS devices — namely Checkm8 and Blackbird. This works because of some shared hardware and software features between T2 chips and iPhones and their underlying hardware.

According to a post from Belgian security firm ironPeak, jailbreaking a T2 security chip involves connecting to a Mac/MacBook via USB-C and running version 0.11.0 of the Checkra1n jailbreaking software during the Mac’s boot-up process.

Per ironPeak, this works because “Apple left a debugging interface open in the T2 security chip shipping to customers, allowing anyone to enter Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode without authentication.”

“Using this method, it is possible to create an USB-C cable that can automatically exploit your macOS device on boot,” ironPeak said.

This allows an attacker to get root access on the T2 chip and modify and take control of anything running on the targeted device, even recovering encrypted data […]

The danger regarding this new jailbreaking technique is pretty obvious. Any Mac or MacBook left unattended can be hacked by someone who can connect a USB-C cable, reboot the device, and then run Checkra1n 0.11.0.

The ironPeak blog post summarizes the position in stark terms.

TL;DR: all recent macOS devices are no longer safe to use if left alone, even if you have them powered down.

• The root of trust on macOS is inherently broken
  
  
• They can bruteforce your FileVault2 volume password
  
  
• They can alter your macOS installation
  
  
• They can load arbitrary kernel extensions

It says the firm decided to go public because Apple failed to respond, despite being contacted ‘on numerous occasions.’

Update: Ironpeak’s Neils was a consultant who provided impact analysis of checkm8 in relation to the T2 chip, but the primary researchers are @h0m3us3r, @mcmrarm, @aunali1 and Rick Mark(@su_rickmark).


The risk to ordinary users is very low

The good news is that this exploit would require physical access to your Mac. Ensuring that your Mac is never left unattended where someone could gain access is the best protection. As always, you should also never connect anything to your Mac – from a charging cable upwards – unless you trust the person or organization providing it.

Since the attack requires physical access, ideally more than once (for example, once to install a keylogger to obtain your password, and again to use the password to access your data), it is the sort of attack which is most likely to be employed by state actors and corporate espionage agents against worthwhile targets: senior company execs, diplomats and so on. The risk to the average Mac user is very low.

The blog post speculates that Apple will likely create a new revision of the T2 chip based on the A12 for Apple Silicon Macs, so these will almost certainly be safe from the exploit.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple Mac perceived as easier to use, more secure than Windows among IT departments

Enterprise users and IT departments view Apple macOS devices as much more secure than their non-Mac counterparts, a new survey claims.

Apple mobile device management (MDM) company Jamf carried out the study along with market research firm Vanson Bourne for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The two organizations surveyed 1,500 information security and IT professionals on device usage, challenges, and other topics at their workplaces.

According to the survey, there appears to be a trend toward Mac devices — both at firms currently using Macs and those that predominantly use non-Mac computers. Among respondents, 74% of predominantly Mac users said they will increase the count of Apple computers at their organizations. Among predominantly non-Mac users, that percentage was 65%.

More than three quarters of organizations surveyed, 77%, said they viewed the Mac as the most secure device out of the box. That result was from both Mac and non-Mac companies, and 79% of Mac-using firms said the perceived security of macOS influenced their purchasing decision. Even 57% of predominantly non-Mac organizations said that the Mac's security reputation affected purchasing decisions.

And even once the Mac devices are bought and set up, respondents said that user satisfaction with Apple devices tended to be higher.

With all baked-in security tools active, 71% of both non-Mac and Mac organizations said they had better user satisfaction with the Mac. Additionally, 84% said they'd choose Mac if every individual at their company had to use the same device.

As Jamf points out, the switch to remote work during the coronavirus global health crisis has placed a greater emphasis on device security as more users work on home networks and their own hardware.

Nearly all of the organizations surveyed, 96% of them, said that they will prioritize spending on security software in the future. On the other hand, despite lingering security concerns, Mac-using organizations tend to roll out security patches 30% faster than non-Mac groups. There is still a four-day average from release to rollout for Mac-based security fixes.









That reminded me of this from Nov 12, 2019


IBM's 200,000 Macs have made a happier, more productive workforce

BM has published its latest study focusing on the benefits of Apple products in enterprise, and has found that a fleet of over 200,000 Macs leads to far lower support costs, smaller numbers of support staff, and happier employees versus a Windows deployment.

In the study presented on Tuesday, IBM says that employees that used Mac machines were 22 percent more likely to exceed expectations in performance reviews compared to Windows users. Mac-using employees generating sales deals have 16% larger proceeds as well.

"The state of IT is a daily reflection of what IBM thinks and feels about its employees," said Fletcher Previn, CIO, IBM. "I've said it before - when did it become OK to live like the Jetsons at home but the Flintstones at work? We aim to create a productive environment for IBMers and continuously improve their work experience, and that's why we introduced our employee-choice program to IBM employees in 2015."

Turning to employee satisfaction, the first-of-its-kind study shows that Mac users were 17 percent less likely to leave IBM compared to their Windows counterparts. Mac users also were happier with the software available, with 5 percent asking for additional software compared to 11 percent of Windows users.

Previn touched on the cost to support the Macs in the workplace. A team of seven engineers is needed to maintain 200,000 Macs whereas a team of 20 is needed for that number of Windows PCs.

During setup, the migration process was simple for 98 percent of Mac users versus only 86 percent of those moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Windows users were also five times as likely to need on-site support.

Earlier this year Jamf released a study that showed reliability was the number one reason users preferred to work on a Mac rather than a PC.

IBM has made a number of announcements at JNUC in the past. Last year at JNUC 2018, Previn announced the computing behemoth was open-sourcing its Mac@IBM provisioning code as well as the huge returns it saw with its Mac deployment.

The Mac@IBM program kicked off in 2015 where IBM was deploying 1,900 Mac devices per week supported by only 24 help desk staff members.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple Music gets dedicated Disney page for soundtracks, playlists, radio stations

Disney and Apple have had a close relationship over the decades and the latest integration between the two sees Disney gain a dedicated destination on Apple Music that features the best place to listen to your favorite soundtracks, radio stations, and playlists. The new page also includes seasonal updates, with the current one being a Disney Halloween theme.

The ties between Apple and Disney have been close for decades. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger (who served on Apple’s board until 2019) even said that the two companies would have likely merged under Steve Jobs. Disney has done a great job with the Disney+ streaming service integration on Apple devices. And just this week, we saw Disney update its catalog of films to 4K in iTunes.

The latest collaboration between the two companies sees a dedicated Disney destination on Apple Music, making it easy for fans to listen to their favorite soundtracks from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars films, and more.

There will be seasonal updates and right now there is a Disney Halloween feature for October. Disney shared the specifics in a press release:

Beginning today, Apple Music subscribers can discover the magic of Disney’s timeless legacy with a unique collection of 30+ playlists, classic soundtracks, radio stations, and more. This new destination gives Apple Music’s users an opportunity to engage with content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and beyond in a brand new way. The Disney destination on Apple will be updated regularly. At launch, Disney Halloween will be featured for spooky season.

Other content includes Apple Music radio stations and exclusive interviews.

The launch also includes a Disney Hits Radio special on the new Apple Music Hits radio station. Hosted by Hollywood Records’ artist Sofia Carson, the radio show celebrates nearly 80 years of Disney excellence by highlighting music from the Disney Hits playlist, plus exclusive interviews with artists discussing their experiences creating iconic moments in Disney’s musical history. Conversations include Oscar®, GRAMMY®, Emmy® and Tony® Award-winning composer and songwriter Alan Menken, GRAMMY Award-winning artist Christina Aguilera, Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid), Paige O’Hara (Beauty and the Beast), and many more!

Check out the new Disney page on Apple Music here to get listening.





If you're interested:
Disney buys Pixar
House of Mouse is teaming up with Pixar in a $7.4 billion deal. Steve Jobs to become board member at Disney.
January 25, 2006: 8:44 AM EST
https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/
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[sultrysandy]

DOJ formalizes request for encryption back-doors

The US Department of Justice, in conjunction with the "Five Eyes" nations, has issued a statement asking Apple and other tech companies to effectively create backdoors that will weaken encryption strength overall to provide law enforcement access to data.

In a statement released on Sunday by the US Department of Justice, the "International Statement: End-to-End Encryption and Public Safety" is a continuation of the long-running encryption debate. In the latest salvo in the ongoing war, representatives of governments from multiple countries are demanding access to encrypted data for the sake of sexually exploited children.

The lengthy statement demands tech companies "embed the safety of the public in system designs" relating to encryption, to enable companies to "act against illegal content and activity effectively with no reduction to safety," while enabling law enforcement to do its job. This includes enabling law enforcement officials "access to content in a readable and usable format where an authorization is lawfully issued, is necessary and proportionate, and is subject to strong safeguards and oversight."

In effect, the group is asking for access to encrypted data via some form of backdoor meant just for law enforcement, while still keeping it secure to prevent access by hackers and other online criminals.

The group claims it is working with the tech industry to "develop reasonable proposals that will allow technology companies and governments to protect the public and their privacy, defend cyber security and human rights, and support technological innovation."

Though it does agree that "data protection, respect for privacy, and the importance of encryption as technology changes and global Internet standards are developed remain at the forefront of each state's legal framework," it also wants to "challenge the assertion that public safety cannot be protected without compromising privacy or cyber security."

"We strongly believe that approaches protecting each of these important values are possible and strive to work with industry to collaborate on mutually agreeable solutions," the statement concludes.

The statement is signed by US Attorney General William Barr, UK Secretary of State for the Home Department Priti Patel, Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, and other representatives for Canada, India, Japan, and New Zealand.


History repeating itself

The statement is the latest attempt by governments to try and gain access to data that is protected by encryption, which includes versions such as end-to-end encryption that are extremely difficult to monitor. By being able to access encrypted content, investigators would be able to monitor for illegal activity, and potentially gain evidence that could result in the prosecution of criminals.

This has led to a repeated refrain from law enforcement and governments that technology companies should instigate some form of backdoor into their systems to allow access to law enforcement. The same governments also believe it is possible to enable access while keeping encryption secure.

Critics respond by insisting there's no way you can add a backdoor to encryption without weakening encryption itself. The general belief is that bad actors would simply try to attack the backdoor itself to see data instead of trying to beat the encryption directly.

An earlier example of this sort of governmental demand is the UK's MI5 chief Sir Andrew Parker, who urged for more assistance in gaining access to encrypted communications. The February comments by Parker were part of a documentary, which saw the security head tell government ministers it wasn't possible to halt every terror plot, due to a limited capability to see online communications.

The fight against online child sexual abuse angle has previously been deployed by Barr, speaking alongside representatives from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK in March. That declaration steered clear of mentioning backdoors, but the sentiment to do so was still evident.

For Apple, its use of on-device encryption has led to very public disagreements with the US government, such as presidential demands to unlock iPhones used by criminals, like the Pensacola shooter.

The FBI has also made public calls for Apple to provide backdoors, but following its own breaking of iPhone security, such calls should have ended.

The public fight for encryption and the resistance to break it has led to lawmakers working to introduce laws to force the matter. In June, a Republican bill was introduced to the Senate to try and weaken encryption by ending the use of "warrant-proof" encrypted technology.
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[LincolnDuncan]

I'm looking for advice from anyone about Apple itunes. I've been using itunes for years with windows. Now itunes won't sync with my iphone or my ipod. I'm spent over 15 hours talking with Apple techs screen sharing and all that cool shit. They haven't been able to help.


thanks

 

[sultrysandy]

Apple on designing the A14 Bionic for the iPad Air and beyond

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Ready to get your geek on?

Digging into Apple's new chipset with platform architecture VP Tim Millet





When Apple announced the new iPad Air last month, the most interesting thing about it wasn't its iPad Pro-inspired design or the bevy of new color options. No, it’s what the new Air had lurking inside that slim frame.

To our surprise, the 2020 iPad Air was the first device announced by Apple to use the new A14 Bionic chipset. That silicon’s impact won't be limited to tablets, either -- it will almost certainly power the next generation of iPhones, which Apple will unveil on October 13th. In a conversation with Engadget, Tim Millet, Apple's VP of platform architecture, and Tom Boger, senior director of Mac and iPad product marketing, shed some light on the company's approach to designing the A14, and what it means for the iPad Air and beyond.


Building a beast

At a high level, the A14 seems similar to Apple’s other Bionic chipsets. This system-on-a-chip packs a six-core CPU — two cores high-performance cores and four for lower-priority tasks — just as the A12 and A13 did. The number of GPU cores here has also remained unchanged at four. Don't be fooled by these passing similarities, though: Because the A14 was designed for a 5nm manufacturing process, there’s more going on in this system-on-a-chip than ever before. But let’s take a step back first. The shift to ever-denser chipset designs has been happening for years, and shows no sign of slowing.

The A14 might be the world’s first commercially available 5nm chip, but Apple’s rivals aren't far behind. Qualcomm first 5nm mobile chipset, the Snapdragon 875, could debut as soon as December at the company’s virtual Snapdragon Summit. And then there’s Samsung, which — in addition to manufacturing those Snapdragons for Qualcomm — has begun pulling back the curtain on its 5nm Exynos 1080 chipset.

The main benefit of chips based on these new manufacturing processes is that they’re more densely packed with transistors, incredibly small switches that can control the flow of electrons. These serve as the foundation for logic gates, which beget integrated circuits, which beget full-blown processors.



Zoom Into a Microchip - 3:39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxv3JoS1uY8

The inside of a microchip is a mysterious thing. Here, we zoom into a microchip using a digital SLR camera then we transition to a scanning electron microscope, aka SEM. Although this is an older microchip, many of the same principles still apply to microchip design but with much, much smaller structures measured in nanometers instead of microns.



In any case, the shift to 5nm meant Apple had far more transistors to devote to all the systems on the chip. Think: 11.8 billion, up from the 8.5 billion the company had to work with in last year’s A13 Bionic. As you’d expect, that huge uptick in transistor count gave Apple the extra processing bits needed to build significantly faster, more efficient CPU and GPU cores. But it also gave Apple the latitude to make more subtle improvements to a device’s overall experience.

“One of the ways chip architects think about features is not necessarily directly mapping [transistors] to a user feature in the product so much as enabling the underlying technology, like software in the graphics stack to be able to leverage a new capability in the GPU,” Millet said. “That will inevitably come as a visual feature in a game, or in a snappy transition in the user interface.”

The switch to a 5nm design for the A14 also gave Apple the latitude to devote more of its transistor “budget” to components beyond just the CPU and GPU. And when it comes to achieving the best all-around experience, companies like Apple, Samsung and Huawei -- the only other companies to design chips for their own mobile devices -- have a distinct advantage. In this case, because Apple exercises full control over what goes into its systems-on-chips, it can invest in additional processing cores and components before they go mainstream.

The best example is the company's Neural Engine, a component that debuted in the iPhone X's A11 chipset to accelerate the sorts of neural networks needed for features like secure face unlocking, voice recognition for Siri and augmented reality, among other things. Apple was among the first to integrate a dedicated neural accelerator into its chips — Huawei announced the Kirin 970 and its neural processing unit a week before Apple revealed its own Neural Engine, and Samsung and Qualcomm only caught up later.

Unsurprisingly, this year's Neural Engine is a far cry from the first one we saw in 2017. While that original co-processor could perform 600 billion operations per second, last year's A13 raised the bar to 6 trillion operations in the same amount of time. Meanwhile, the A14 generally obliterates the bar by performing a claimed 11 trillion operations per second.

That boost was made possible by a big redesign: The A14's Neural Engine now packs 16 cores, compared to eight in last year's A13. Doubling the engine's core count was an interesting choice since many of the iOS features that relied on it already seemed to run well enough. Since that’s the case, why not instead devote more of those new transistors to further ramping up CPU and GPU performance, which most people may more immediately notice?

The answer is two-fold. For one, Apple continues to see huge potential in supercharging neural networks, not just for the sake of its own software experiences, but for the ones app developers might be able to achieve with the right components in place. The popular image editing app Pixelmator Pro, for instance, leans on the Neural Engine for a feature that makes low-resolution images look surprisingly crisp and clean. Meanwhile, on the other end of the creative spectrum, Algoriddim’s djay Pro AI app uses the Neural Engine to more capably isolate vocals and instrument tracks in songs.

“We saw the opportunity to do things that would have been impossible to do with a conventional CPU instruction set,” Millet said. “You could in theory do many of the things the Neural Engine does on a GPU, but you can't do it inside of a tight, thermally constrained enclosure.”

And that’s a nice segue to the other half of the answer, which is that Apple had to balance sheer horsepower with efficiency. After all, there's no point in making sure the horses run fast if they tire out too soon.

“We try to focus on energy efficiency, because that applies to every product that we build,” said Millet. By making that a fundamental focus of its chip designs, Apple doesn’t have to worry about a situation in which it “focused on energy efficiency for the phone [in a way] that’s not going to work in an iPad Air. Of course it’s going to work.”

Practical impact

There's little debate that the A14 is more impressive than its predecessors, but all of this raises an interesting question: How powerful is this thing, really?

It depends. Apple hasn't yet issued claims about the A14 Bionic's performance improvements over last year’s A13 Bionic -- expect more on that during the company's upcoming keynote. (A set of leaked benchmarks suggests some healthy gains over last year’s chipset, though some are less than impressed.) When Apple revealed the new iPad Air, though, it did say the A14's CPU was up to 40 percent faster than the previous model, and that people could expect up to a 30 percent increase in graphics performance.

It's important to note, however, that real-life performance gains don't always live up to Apple's promises. When the company says the A14's CPU is 30 percent more powerful than the current iPad Air's A12 chipset, for instance, it isn't going off results from popular benchmarking tools you and I have access to. According to Boger, those figures are an amalgamation of "real-world application workloads." In other words, they're composite numbers derived from many different performance factors -- all to demonstrate what it’s like to actually use this thing.

"We understand that single-thread performance for a lot of applications is really important," Millet added. "So we make sure that when we're talking about things like that, we're representing the single-thread performance well. We also represent that more forward-looking developers are actually taking advantage of the extra cores that are coming in."

Since I've spent a considerable chunk of 2020 testing Apple's devices, my thoughts quickly pivoted to how the A14 may blur the boundary between the Air and the iPad Pros. After all, the 2020 iPad Pro relies on a souped-up variant of a two-year-old chipset. How does that stack up compared to Apple's new silicon?

On the whole, the iPad Pro still has the edge. It was a blistering-fast machine when we tested it earlier this year, and Millet and Boger were quick to point out that the current model’s A12Z chipset has more CPU and GPU cores -- eight of each -- than the A14 does. That big difference in GPU computing power in particular means the iPad Pro will continue to be better suited for graphical work and the other “high-performance workloads” Apple’s pro users might deal with. But that’s not to say the iPad Air’s chipset is completely outgunned here.

"Because the A14 has our latest-generation CPU cores, you may see a few things here and there that the A14 could potentially outperform the A12Z in," Boger noted.

That Apple built a $600 tablet with the power to sometimes outperform its pro-level hardware is a big deal. What might be more important, however, is the effect Apple's work in designing the A14 could have on the rest of its devices down the road.

To the future

As I said earlier, the A14 will power the new iPad Air and likely the company's latest slew of iPhones, but it'll almost certainly wind up in other products too. Just look at Apple's line of entry-level iPads: While they've never gotten the high-end chipset variants made for the iPad Pros, they're frequently refreshed with silicon used in previous-generation iPhones. If you're a fan of Apple's devices, it doesn't matter if you aren't planning to splurge on a new phone or tablet just yet -- there's a decent chance you'll eventually experience the A14.

And even if you don’t, you may still benefit from some of the work that went into it. When people at Apple start working on a chipset, they're not solely focused on building one for a single product; they take into account the company's entire lineup. “We spend a lot of time working with the product teams and software teams, and the architecture group really does sit in the center of that,” said Millet. In building a product, Apple has to wrangle a laundry list of important components, from the CPU and GPU to cameras and display modules and a bevy of sensors. Connecting all of them in ways that work well falls to Millet’s team, and one of their biggest priorities is making sure the chip-level architecture that weaves them all together is parameterized -- that is, scalable for use in different kinds of devices.

“Ultimately, we want to make sure that when we build a CPU for one generation, we’re not building it necessarily only for one,” he said. While that doesn’t mean you’ll see the A14’s six-core CPU in something like an Apple Watch, the architecture developed for the company’s flagship phone chipset may well be adapted and reused elsewhere. And as it turns out, we might not have to wait very long before to see a great example.

For weeks now, rumors of an iPad Pro powered by a high-performance version of the A14 called the A14X have continued to surface, with some suggesting a launch in early 2021. That alone isn’t unusual; Apple announced its third-generation iPad Pro and its A12X chipset just one month after releasing the A12-powered iPhone XS series. What’s more interesting -- and this is the part you should take with a grain of salt -- is that the A14X is also rumored to be the chipset inside the company’s first commercially available Apple Silicon Macs. Naturally, the company wouldn’t confirm any of this, but when asked about whether the company’s work on Mac chips influenced the A14’s development at all, Millet noted that “sometimes it's the constraints of a unique platform that drive invention.”

Ultimately, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the A14 and Apple’s plans for it in the near future. How else will its architecture be expanded or constricted to work for differing hardware? Will what Apple learned from designing mobile chipsets like the A14 give it the tools it needs to take on Intel and AMD? Millet stopped short of discussing these topics in full, but one thing seems clear all the same: Whether or not you buy an iPad Air (or an iPhone 12, for that matter), the impact of Apple’s work on this chipset will be felt for years to come.
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[Bramblethorn]

Though it does agree that "data protection, respect for privacy, and the importance of encryption as technology changes and global Internet standards are developed remain at the forefront of each state's legal framework," it also wants to "challenge the assertion that public safety cannot be protected without compromising privacy or cyber security."

"We strongly believe that approaches protecting each of these important values are possible and strive to work with industry to collaborate on mutually agreeable solutions," the statement concludes.

Lots of people "strongly believe" in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy but that doesn't make them real.

 

[sultrysandy]

Apple announced during its October event: iPhone 12, HomePod mini, and more

Apple officially announced its new iPhone 12 lineup today, alongside new MagSafe charging accessories and the HomePod mini. Read on as we recap the details of everything Apple revealed during its October event.

HomePod mini

Apple kicked things off with the official announcement of the HomePod mini. Just like the rumors had predicted, this is a smaller version of the HomePod that measures in at 3.3 inches tall, making it about half as big as the full-sized HomePod.

HomePod mini includes most of HomePod’s features but a smaller spherical design that keeps the same touch-sensitive controls on the top.

In terms of audio quality, Apple says that the HomePod mini features a full range driver with dual passive radiators. Apple says that this hardware should enable deep bass and crisp high frequencies, with an immersive 360-degree audio experience.

Apple is also enabling some new software features for the HomePod and HomePod mini. A new Intercom feature offers a quick and easy way for family members to connect with each other at home. Intercom also works with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay.

You can also now set your HomePod as a permanent speaker output for the Apple TV. Once you enable this setting, your HomePod will be set up as your Apple TV’s default speaker. It’s unclear right now if this feature is available for HomePod mini, or if it’s limited to the full-sized HomePod.

Other than the difference in sound quality, the only other feature to be limited to HomePod is the spatial awareness functionality. In fact, the HomePod mini even includes the U1 ultra wideband chip for improved Handoff functionality, whereas the full-size HomePod does not.

The HomePod mini will be available to order on November 6, with availability beginning the week of November 16. It will cost $99, making it much more affordable than the $299 HomePod, which remains in Apple’s lineup without a price cut.


iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

With the HomePod mini out of the way, attention shifted to the iPhone lineup and specifically the fact that the iPhone 12 is the first iPhone to feature support for 5G connectivity across the entire lineup. There is support for mmWave 5G in the United States exclusively, and support for sub-6GHz 5G in other countries as well as in the U.S.

The first iPhone 12 model officially introduced by Apple was the 6.1-inch iPhone 12. Just like the rumors suggested, the iPhone 12 features a flat-edge design similar to the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and the newest iPad Pro hardware.

The iPhone 12 is powered by a new A14 Bionic processor that uses a new 5 nanometer process to reduce transistor size. Apple says the new six-core CPU is up to 50% faster than any other smartphone. The iPhone 12 also includes a new 4-core GPU, which is up to 50% faster than the competition.

Compared to the iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 is 11% thinner and 15% smaller in volume. Apple has adopted OLED displays across the board, improving contrast and brightness over last year’s LCD display iPhone 11 model. The display itself is a Super Retina XDR panel with a “Ceramic Shield” cover for improved durability and 4x better drop performance. The iPhone 12 features a 2532×1770 pixel resolution display at 460 pixels-per-inch.

iPhone 12 features a dual-camera setup with wide and ultra wide lenses, alongside more capable Smart HDR and improved Night mode with support for the selfie camera and the ultra wide for the first time. There is also a new Night mode Time-lapse feature on the iPhone 12.

Next up, Apple introduced the iPhone 12 mini, a smaller version of the iPhone 12 with a 5.4-inch OLED display. The iPhone 12 mini packs all of the same features as the iPhone 12, just in a smaller form factor. In fact, Apple touted during the event that the iPhone 12 mini packs a much larger screen than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE, but is actually physically smaller because of its edge-to-edge design.

The iPhone 12 mini display is 2340×1080 in terms of resolution, equating to 476 pixels-per-inch.

Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will be available in five colors: blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED. Pricing will start at $699 for the iPhone 12 mini and $799 for the iPhone 12…if you’re buying the AT&T or Verizon versions.

Essentially, it appears that Apple has secured a special deal with AT&T and Verizon to offer the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 at $699/$799. If you’re buying for any other carrier, or buying the unlocked version, you’ll pay $729 for the iPhone 12 mini and $829 for the iPhone 12. That’s a $30 price increase based on your carrier.

The base storage configuration is 64GB and you can upgrade to 128GB or 256GB.


iPhone 12 Pro

Next up, Apple shifted to the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro measures in at 6.1-inches, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max features a 6.7-inch screen.

Apple says the form factors of the larger iPhone 12 Pro devices are “nearly the same” than the smaller iPhone 11 Pro models they replace, even though the screen sizes have increased. The frame of the iPhone 12 Pro is made out of a durable and shiny stainless steel material available in four different finishes.

As has become the norm over the last several years, the camera hardware is what differentiates the iPhone 12 Pro from the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 Pro features a triple-lens camera setup on the back with a telephone lens, an ultra wide lens, and a wide lens.

Apple says that the new wide camera features the fastest ever aperture on the iPhone, for 27 percent improved low-light performance in photo and video. The ultra wide features a 120-degree field of view, which Apple says is even better for expansive landscape shots.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max features an even larger wide camera sensor, making for an 87 percent improvement in low-light photography. Combined, the Ultra Wide and Telephoto lens system offer 5x optical zoom range, Apple says. You also get all of the same software improvements as the iPhone 12, including Dolby Vision video recording, 10-bit HDR video recording, improved Smart HDR and Night mode, and more.

Finally, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max also feature an all-new LiDAR Scanner on the back. The LiDAR Scanner enables object and room scanning, AR features, and more. The LiDAR Scanner also contributes to low-light auto focus and improving capture time.

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available in four colors, including graphite, silver, gold, and pacific blue. The iPhone 12 Pro will be available for pre-order on Friday, October 16, with availability beginning Friday, October 23. iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available for pre-order Friday, November 6 with availability beginning November 13.


MagSafe

Last but certainly not least, Apple has revived the iconic MagSafe branding for a new lineup of magnetic accessories for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. All four of the iPhone 12 models feature a ring of magnets on the back that allow them to use these new MagSafe accessories.

Apple has introduced its own lineup of MagSafe accessories for the iPhone 12, including a MagSafe Charger that can provide up to 15W of power to the iPhone. There’s also a MagSafe Duo charger that includes a built-in Apple Watch charger, allowing you to charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time.

Apple also has a new lineup of silicone and clear cases for the iPhone 12 that take advantage of the MagSafe technology. Finally, there is even a new leather wallet that attaches magnetically to the back of your iPhone 12.

Finally, Apple says that third-party accessory makers will also be able to tap into the MagSafe ecosystem and make their own accessories that use the iPhone 12’s magnets.

The revival of the MagSafe brand for Apple’s wireless charging lineup comes after Apple canceled the AirPower project in 2019 over concerns related to reliability and overheating. Apple appears to have shifted its strategy this time around, reverting to the magnets-based approach that it used on the MagSafe chargers for the MacBook lineup for many years.

The first MagSafe accessories are available to order from Apple today, with the MagSafe Charger costing $39, the cases costing $49, and the Leather Wallet retailing for $59. Pricing information for the MagSafe Duo and a MagSafe Leather Sleeve is unavailable, with Apple saying these products are coming at a later date.
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[GreatLakesMale5]

Incredibly helpful thread

I feel like I know more about my Apple products now, as a result of this thread than in the decade I've been using them!

great find, thanks for all the info!!

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

Personally, I am really curious about the LIDAR sensor. What, exactly, does it do and how good is it? What neat apps will be created to take advantage of whatever it does?

 

[sultrysandy]

I feel like I know more about my Apple products now, as a result of this thread than in the decade I've been using them!

great find, thanks for all the info!!

Glad it's helpful for you.


So far today been sorting through all sorts of things, from Wall Street Analyst research notes, to 5G iPhone info, to model comparisons, and think figured out why iMac lead times are stretching out (eye arr sew stew pud).


And as in his Steve notes, There's will be one more thing, Apple Silicon Macs will begin in a few weeks.
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[sultrysandy]

Personally, I am really curious about the LIDAR sensor. What, exactly, does it do and how good is it? What neat apps will be created to take advantage of whatever it does?

Think have something can reply on for you this evening..

.

 

[sultrysandy]

Early iPhone 12 5G speed tests show how results will vary by carrier and location

One of the headlining features of iPhone 12 is its support for 5G connectivity. Ahead of pre-orders beginning on Friday, the first 5G speed tests with the iPhone 12 have hit the web, offering a better, but still incomplete, look at what kind of speeds you can expect with the iPhone 12 using 5G in the United States.

The iPhone 12 supports two types of 5G connectivity: mmWave 5G and low-band sub-6GHz 5G, though only the models sold in the United States support the mmWave 5G technology. In general, mmWave 5G is significantly faster than sub‑6 GHz 5G, but also difficult to deploy and generally limited to more urban areas.

So far, the tests we’ve seen from the iPhone 12 running on 5G are limited to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile in the United States. The tests recently passed through the SpeedSmart app, which is a speed testing app available for iPhone and iPad.

SpeedSmart emphasizes that only a “small number of tests” have surfaced so far, across a handful of major metropolitan cities in the United States.



Here are the results for the AT&T iPhone 12 5G tests, using only the sub-6GHz 5G technology, not mmWave 5G:

Here are the results for the Verizon iPhone 12 5G tests, which are using the mmWave 5G technology:

And finally, here are a mix of results from iPhone 12 5G tests with T-Mobile, using a mix of mmWave 5G and mid-band 5G:

As you can see, Verizon’s mmWave 5G is by far the most impressive in terms of performance. AT&T shows show sub-6GHz 5G speeds that are marginally better than 4G LTE, though T-Mobile’s mmWave 5G performance is certainly notable. SpeedSmart explains that mid-band 5G, as seen only with T-Mobile at this point, is what most people should expect:

The sweet spot for most will be Mid Band 5G. As you can see T-Mobile with download speeds in excess of 400 Mbps using Mid Band 5G is very impressive, most people should end up with results like this if they are in an area with mid-band 5G deployed, otherwise most will notice very little to no difference when going to 5G.

You can read the full results over on the SpeedSmart website.
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[sultrysandy]

iPhone 12 Pro LiDAR sensor allows for 6x faster low-light autofocus, instant AR

Personally, I am really curious about the LIDAR sensor. What, exactly, does it do and how good is it? What neat apps will be created to take advantage of whatever it does?

Think have something can reply on for you this evening..

.

Apple's new iPhone 12 Pro models feature a new LiDAR sensor that will significantly enhance its augmented reality and photography capabilities.

First introduced on the iPad Pro, the LiDAR sensor suite is a laser-based, time-of-flight system that allows a device to quickly calculate the distance to an object.

On the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, the LiDAR sensor will enhance Apple's ARKit, as well as photo and video capture. The company says it offers "the ability to measure light distance and use pixel depth information of a scene."

For example, the LiDAR sensor can create precise depth maps of an environment or scene. That will allow for "instant AR" experiences, more realistic AR scenes, and "endless opportunities" for developers to take advantage of it.

It can also be used to enhance autofocus in low-light scenes. The LiDAR sensor allows for 6x faster focus time in low-light scenes for both video and photo sessions. It also enables Night portrait modes, which Apple says will allow for a "beautiful low-light bokeh effect."

There's also a good chance that LiDAR will play a role in Apple's own proprietary AR features, including for indoor navigation and item tracking alongside Ultra Wideband technology.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple's LiDAR Scanner in the iPad Pro

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This is from when the fourth generation of iPad Pro was announced seven months ago

Apple on Wednesday unveiled two new iPad Pro models that come equipped with a LiDAR Scanner, which will offer major improvements to ARKit and photography.

The new 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models are the first of Apple's devices to feature the 3D laser system, but they likely won't be the last. Here's what you need to know about LiDAR, how it improves current iPad Pro models, and what other future Apple devices could feature it.


What is LiDAR?

At the most basic level, LiDAR is a time-of-flight system that shoots low-power lasers at an environment. Using the reflections, it calculates the distance to objects and points in the environment, and creates an accurate 3D depth map or rendering based on the results.

Apple's own proprietary take on it, simply dubbed the LiDAR Scanner, likely has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Apple says it can measure the distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away and operates "at the photon level at nano-second speeds."

The iPad Pro LiDAR Scanner is used to create depth mapping points that, when combined with camera and motion sensor data, can create a "more detailed understanding of a scene" according to Apple.


What could a LiDAR Scanner be used for?

Among Apple's existing features, LiDAR will have the biggest impact on augmented reality (AR) and Apple's own ARKit framework. Apple says the new LiDAR Scanner will allow for instant object placement, indicating that users wouldn't need to "scan" their environment before an AR app loads.

Along with improvements to motion capture and people occlusion, the LiDAR Scanner will also make the Measure app much faster and more accurate. Measure will now include a new Ruler View for more granular measurements going forward, too.

While Apple didn't specifically mention it, LiDAR will improve photography too. Take Portrait Mode, which the 2018 iPad Pro only supported in front-facing mode. With an actual 3D depth map of an area instead of using lens-based calculations to determine depth, Apple could add rear-facing Portrait Mode to the iPad Pro and improve the feature's accuracy and speed.


Is the LiDAR coming to other devices?

Apple's LiDAR scanner has launched first on the new 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, as was previously rumored. But the system is also largely expected to arrive on some 2020 iPhones, too.

The latest information, pulled from code within an iOS 14 leak, suggests that a time-of-flight camera will arrive on both the "iPhone 12 Pro" and the "iPhone 12 Pro Max" this year.

On those devices, a LiDAR Scanner will also bring the same improvements to ARKit apps and photography. But combined with Ultra Wide Band technology, it may also be useful in applications such as indoor navigation and item tracking.


LiDAR for vehicular applications

LiDAR is a new addition to Apple's handheld devices, but the Cupertino tech company has actually been actively using them for years in other applications. Apple vehicles with LiDAR sensors have been spotted in California as far back as 2015. The technology is considered a crucial part of the development of autonomous vehicles, particularly so they can accurately analyze their environment.

Amid rumors of Project Titan and the "Apple Car," the company appears to be steadily investing into LiDAR and other related research for vehicular applications, including a slew of patent applications related to the tech.

And in a rare public-facing example of its research, Apple also published a research paper in 2017 detailing LiDAR-based 3D object recognition systems for self-driving cars. Essentially, the system leverages the depth mapping of LiDAR and combines it with neural networks to vastly improve the ability of a self-driving car to "see" its environment and potential hazards.
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[sultrysandy]

PSA: UK iPhone 12/Pro buyers can use Apple Store app today, ahead of preorders

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I am not hyping, pitching, recommending, or suggesting that anyone rush to pre-order or even buy an iPhone 12.

More on iPhone 12 pre-orders hopefully soon

If you’re in the UK and planning to preorder an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro tomorrow, you can speed things up – and even get preapproved for an interest-free loan – by completing part of the process in the Apple Store app today …

While Apple doesn’t appear to have gone as far as allowing UK customers to sign up for the iPhone Upgrade Programme through the app, it does offer the choice of choosing between paying in full and taking out a Barclays loan. If you choose the latter, you can complete the application and get approved today.

If you plan to pay in full, you can ensure that Apple Pay or a payment card is set up in the app ready for use, making for a faster checkout.

Either way, you’ll save time by selecting the model, storage tier, and color today, leaving you less to do tomorrow. The quicker you can place your order tomorrow, the better the chance you’ll snaffle one of the first batch to be delivered on October 23.

If you plan to join the iPhone Upgrade Programme, it appears you’ll still need to select In-store Pickup and then complete the paperwork when you visit the store.

Preorders in Taiwan suggest that this year’s iPhones are going to be extremely popular, making it likely that delivery dates will very quickly slip. You’ll want to get prepared today, then have the app open and ready by 1 pm tomorrow, which is when preorders begin in the UK.

If you don’t already have the Apple Store app installed, it’s a free download from the App Store. You have until 5 am tomorrow to do the, uh, pre-preorder steps.
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[sultrysandy]

FCC Chairman says will move to ‘clarify’ Section 230, threatening tech’s legal shield

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FCC Chairman says he will move to ‘clarify’ Section 230, threatening tech’s legal shield

Chairman Ajit Pai, Chanirman of the Federal Communications Commission in Washington.



Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said Thursday he plans to move forward with rulemaking to “clarify” the scope of Section 230, an important legal shield for tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter.

Section 230 protects tech platforms from being held liable for their users’ posts. It also allows them to moderate content in good faith without repercussions. The law was passed in the early days of the internet in the 1990s as part of the Communications Decency Act, but lawmakers across the political spectrum have since called for it to be revised as the tech companies have grown to massive scale and influence.

Politicians disagree about how that should be done. Democrats want to preserve protections that allow platforms to remove harmful and harassing content. But Republicans want to root out alleged anti-conservative bias by limiting the scope of those protections.

In a statement, Pai said the decision came after the FCC’s general counsel determined the agency has the legal authority to interpret the statute. The Department of Commerce petitioned the FCC to “clarify ambiguities in section 230” after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in May. The order, which came after Twitter added fact-check labels to Trump’s tweets for the first time, directed the FCC to set new rules on platforms’ protections under Section 230.

The FCC’s two Democratic commissioners, Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel, criticized Pai’s decision.

Starks said in a tweet that Trump’s executive order “was politically motivated and legally unsound. The FCC shouldn’t do the President’s bidding here.”

“The FCC has no business being the President’s speech police,” Rosenworcel tweeted.

It’s not clear how the FCC would seek to clarify Section 230, but it would almost certainly narrow its scope.

Tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter invoke Section 230 widely in court to dismiss frivolous lawsuits, often with success. If their protection under the law is limited, it could force them to rethink their business models entirely. Depending on how the rules are worded, some platforms might take a more hands-off approach to moderation to avoid liability, which could reduce user satisfaction and engagement. Others might take more responsibility to curate and screen content, like a news publisher would, which would increase their costs of doing business.

In his statement, Pai referenced a recent filing by conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, where he wrote it “behooves” the court to determine the “correct interpretation” of Section 230. Thomas wrote that “many courts have construed the law broadly to confer sweeping immunity on some of the largest companies in the world” and added that there’s reason to reconsider.

“Social media companies have a First Amendment right to free speech,” Pai said in the statement. “But they do not have a First Amendment right to a special immunity denied to other media outlets, such as newspapers and broadcasters.”






Sandy note - after more than four years observing what guys prefer to commonly post, with how Litoertica's Mods enforce, Laurel and Manu could be fucked.
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