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It was taken in 1988, on the set of the “Tonight Show,” during an episode marking the twenty-sixth anniversary of Johnny Carson’s run as host. It shows Carson during a bit with three of the recurring guest hosts on the show — Shandling, David Letterman, and Jay Leno — each of whom, by that point, had some designs on taking over for Carson when he finally came around on the idea of calling it quits. There is a lot of comedy firepower in that photo, and a lot of ego. Four famous white men onstage in tuxedos: it’s like a Hollywood version of one of those photographs from the early Soviet era that show political leaders in an uneasy alliance, before all the backstabbing, purges, and power grabs. But what’s most striking about the image is how it captures, in the faces and manner of the four men, the precise nature of their comedic appeal. </blockquote> It really is a remarkable photo. I changed my <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/gruber">Twitter profile</a> banner to this picture a few days ago. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://blog.pinboard.in/2016/03/my_heroic_and_lazy_stand_against_ifttt/">Maciej Ceglowski’s Heroic and Lazy Stand Against IFTTT</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Maciej Ceglowski’s Heroic and Lazy Stand Against IFTTT’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/28/ifttt-pinboard">★</a> </dt> <dd> Pinboard creator Maciej Ceglowski: <blockquote> Because many of you rely on IFTTT, and because this email makes it sound like I’m the asshole, I feel I should explain myself. In a nutshell: <ol> <li>IFTTT wants me to do their job for them for free</li> <li>They have really squirrely terms of service</li> </ol> </blockquote> </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://backchannel.com/a-hacker-s-guide-to-bending-the-universe-86a5636b04da">Bending the Universe</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Bending the Universe’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/28/bending-the-universe">★</a> </dt> <dd> Marcin Wichary on the joy of writing a software hack as a teen: <blockquote> There’s more to life than hacks, of course. Hacks are seductive, but they need to be exceptions, rather than norm. Many better engineers I’ve worked with taught me the value of hard, methodical work; writing code that’s simple to understand and easy to maintain, be it days or decades later. But that first little assembly program put in my mind a very powerful notion: that there’s always a way out. Always a solution. That if you care enough, put in enough time, and take ownership of the messy consequences, you can sometimes bend — or, in my case un-bend — the rules of the universe. </blockquote> </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2016/03/follow-the-money-apple-vs-the-.html">Charlie Stross on Apple vs. the FBI</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Charlie Stross on Apple vs. the FBI’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/28/stross-apple-pay">★</a> </dt> <dd> Charlie Stross: <blockquote> The FBI thought they were asking for a way to unlock a mobile phone, because the FBI is myopically focussed on past criminal investigations, not the future of the technology industry, and the FBI did not understand that they were actually asking for a way to tracelessly unlock and mess with every ATM and credit card on the planet circa 2030 (if not via Apple, then via the other phone OSs, once the festering security fleapit that is Android wakes up and smells the money). If the FBI get what they want, then the back door will be installed and the next-generation payments infrastructure will be just as prone to fraud as the last-generation card infrastructure, with its card skimmers and identity theft. And this is why Tim Cook is willing to go to the mattresses with the US department of justice over iOS security: if nobody trusts their iPhone, nobody will be willing to trust the next-generation Apple Bank, and Apple is going to lose their best option for securing their cash pile as it climbs towards the stratosphere. </blockquote> The most interesting part of Stross’s piece is his argument that Apple needs to become a bank just to manage its massive, ever-growing reserve of cash. I think he’s too cynical in arguing that Apple Pay is Apple’s primary motivation behind its stance on encryption and privacy, though. It’s without question part of it, but I think Apple would have the same stance today even if Apple Pay didn’t exist. iMessage is designed around end-to-end encryption, for example, and it has nothing to do with Apple Pay. Update: A <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/MattRichman/status/714612864359796736">few</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/_GKeenan/status/714579500613414912">readers</a> have pointed out that iMessage doesn’t have anything to do with Apple Pay yet, but could soon. Turning iMessage into a user-to-user payment system would be very cool, indeed. Another example: Apple is widely believed to be working on encrypted iCloud backups. I don’t think there’s any Apple Pay tie-in there. My point is that I think both of the following statements are true: Apple believes in strong encryption as a matter of principle; strong encryption is fundamental to Apple Pay’s success. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/FBI_apple_20160328.pdf">FBI Confirms Working Attack on San Bernardino iPhone, Requests Case Be Dropped (PDF)</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘FBI Confirms Working Attack on San Bernardino iPhone, Requests Case Be Dropped (PDF)’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/28/fbi-confirms-working-attack">★</a> </dt> <dd> The Department of Justice has filed their status report: <blockquote> The government has now successfully accessed the data stored on Farook’s iPhone and therefore no longer requires the assistance from Apple Inc. mandated by Court’s Order Compelling Apple Inc. to Assist Agents in Search dated February 16, 2016. Accordingly, the government hereby requests that the Order Compelling Apple Inc. to Assist Agents in Search dated February 16, 2016 be vacated. </blockquote> A battle is over, but the war has only just begun. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/thetalkshow/2016/03/28/ep-150">The Talk Show: ‘Strict Robot Definer’</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘The Talk Show: ‘Strict Robot Definer’’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/28/the-talk-show-150">★</a> </dt> <dd> Blockbuster super-sized new episode of my podcast, with special guest Jason Snell. We take an in-depth look at last week’s Apple Event, and the two products that were introduced: the iPhone SE and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Other topics include the ongoing FBI/Apple encryption soap opera, what’s wrong with the Apple Watch — and our appreciation for the late great Garry Shandling. Sponsored by: <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://hellofresh.com/">Hello Fresh</a>: The meal kit delivery service that makes cooking fun, easy, and convenient. Save $35 off your first week of deliveries with code “TALKSHOW”.</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://squarespace.com/">Squarespace</a>: Build it beautiful. Use code GRUBER for 10% off your first order.</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.backblaze.com/daringfireball">Backblaze</a>: Online backup for $5/month. Native. Unlimited. Unthrottled. Uncomplicated.</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://mailroute.net/tts">MailRoute</a>: Hosted spam and virus protection for email. Use this link for 10 percent off for the life of your account.</li> </ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.macworld.com/article/3047121/iphone-ipad/ios-93-the-new-night-shift-feature-probably-wont-help-you-sleep-better.html">Glenn Fleishman: ‘The New Night Shift Feature Probably Won’t Help You Sleep Better’</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Glenn Fleishman: ‘The New Night Shift Feature Probably Won’t Help You Sleep Better’’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/28/fleishman-night-shift">★</a> </dt> <dd> Glenn Fleishman, writing at Macworld: <blockquote> The Night Shift feature in iOS 9.3 lets you adjust the color temperature of the display, shifting away from blue spectrums of light, in the putative interest of improving sleep. But Apple makes no promises. On its website, Apple notes, “Many studies have shown that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can affect your circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep.” In iOS, the feature is explained with “This may help you get a better night’s sleep.” In fact, this feature likely will have little or no effect on most people. Apple hasn’t misrepresented any of the science, but clinical work done to date doesn’t point a finger right at mobile devices or even larger displays. Night Shift also can’t remove enough blue to make a difference if that color is the culprit. And blue light may not be the trigger it’s been identified as. While researchers haven’t tested the new feature yet, several factors add up to at best a placebo effect and a reminder to power yourself down. </blockquote> I know people who enjoy Night Shift (and its Mac progenitor, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://justgetflux.com/">F.lux</a>) because they find it easier on their eyes at night. I think the stuff about getting a better night’s sleep is bunk, though. (And personally, I find the effect hideous — as though the display has been stained by years of exposure to nicotine.) </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Sunday, 27 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.gq.com/story/garry-shandling-tribute-last-email">Garry Shandling’s Last Email to Amy Wallace</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Garry Shandling’s Last Email to Amy Wallace’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/27/shandling-wallace">★</a> </dt> <dd> Amy Wallace: <blockquote> I will never forget calling my editor at GQ after spending my first four hours with Garry Shandling. I was sitting in my car outside Garry’s house in Mandeville Canyon. “I feel like I’m going to cry,” I said into the phone. </blockquote> Great story. Update: I hadn’t read <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.gq.com/story/comedy-issue-garry-shandling">Wallace’s profile of Shandling until now</a>. It’s so good. </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Friday, 25 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.bushel.com/set-up-and-protect?utm_source=daringfireball&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=2016-12">Bushel</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Bushel’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/25/bushel">★</a> </dt> <dd> My thanks to Bushel for sponsoring this week’s DF RSS feed. Bushel is a simple-to-use cloud-based tool to manage the Apple devices in your workplace. With Bushel you can easily set up and protect all of the Apple devices that you distribute to your team. Provide access to company email accounts, automatically install work apps to every device in one fell swoop, and protect your team’s private data from company data. You can manage those Apple devices when you want, wherever you are. Bushel makes the complex simple. Your first three devices are free forever, and each additional device is just $2 per month. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/gduffy/status/713221925032464385">Dropcam Founder Greg Duffy Subtweets Tony Fadell</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Dropcam Founder Greg Duffy Subtweets Tony Fadell’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/25/duffy-fadell">★</a> </dt> <dd> Greg Duffy, after <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/the-information-tony-fadell-nest">The Information’s scathing look inside Nest</a> yesterday: <blockquote> If you want to play emperor, make sure to wear real clothes. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Clothes">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Clothes</a> </blockquote> Zing. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://weblog.rogueamoeba.com/2016/02/18/now-playing-airfoil-for-mac-5/">Airfoil 5.0</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Airfoil 5.0’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/25/airfoil-5">★</a> </dt> <dd> Nice update to Rogue Amoeba’s excellent “send audio from your Mac to other devices” app, Airfoil: <blockquote> Perhaps the biggest change in Airfoil is that it now supports sending audio to Bluetooth devices. Airfoil has always been able to send audio to AirPlay outputs, like the Apple TV and AirPort Express. Now, it also works with the thousands of different Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and headsets available. With Airfoil 5, you can stream a single application’s audio to a Bluetooth device (or multiple Bluetooth devices!), and keep the rest of your audio on your Mac. </blockquote> Check out <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.macworld.com/article/3038413/software/airfoil-5-review-audio-utility-pumps-up-the-volume-with-bluetooth-support-airfoil-satellite-and-mor.html">Glenn Fleishman’s glowing 5-mouse review in Macworld</a>. </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Thursday, 24 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexkantrowitz/how-the-internet-turned-microsofts-ai-chatbot-into-a-neo-naz">Microsoft Disables Teen-Mimicking Chat Bot After It Started Posting Racist Tweets</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Microsoft Disables Teen-Mimicking Chat Bot After It Started Posting Racist Tweets’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/tay">★</a> </dt> <dd> Alex Kantrowitz, writing for BuzzFeed: <blockquote> In a matter of hours this week, Microsoft’s AI-powered chatbot, Tay, went from a jovial teen to a Holocaust-denying menace openly calling for a race war in ALL CAPS. The bot’s sudden dark turn shocked many people, who rightfully wondered how Tay, imbued with the personality of a 19-year-old girl, could undergo such a transformation so quickly, and why Microsoft would release it into the wild without filters for hate speech. Sources at Microsoft told BuzzFeed News that Tay was outfitted with some filters for vulgarity and the like. What the bot was not outfitted with were safeguards against those dark forces on the internet that would inevitably do their damnedest to corrupt her. That proved a critical oversight. </blockquote> Not sure how Microsoft didn’t see this coming. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/arts/television/no-flipping-remembering-garry-shandling.html">No Flipping: Remembering Garry Shandling</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘No Flipping: Remembering Garry Shandling’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/shandling">★</a> </dt> <dd> Some great video clips in the Times’s obituary for Shandling, including his legendary first appearance on The Tonight Show, and his first guest-hosting stint. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.512pixels.net/blog/2016/3/mac-os-x-turns-15">Mac OS X Turns 15</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Mac OS X Turns 15’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/mac-os-x-15">★</a> </dt> <dd> Stephen Hackett has a nice roundup of links to commemorate Mac OS X turning 15. I tend to think of Mac OS X as being “much” older than iOS, but iOS turns 9 in June. Not that much of a difference at this point — iOS is as mature now as Mac OS X was in 2010. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/business/media/apples-first-foray-into-original-tv-is-a-series-about-apps.html">Apple’s First Foray Into Original TV Is a Series About Apps</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Apple’s First Foray Into Original TV Is a Series About Apps’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/app-store-show">★</a> </dt> <dd> Emily Steel, reporting for the NYT: <blockquote> Apple announced on Thursday that it was working with the entertainer Will.i.am and two veteran TV executives, Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, on a new show that will spotlight the app economy. “One of the things with the app store that was always great about it was the great ideas that people had to build things and create things,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services, said in an interview. Details about the production are scant, and it was unclear how directly the show would promote or refer to Apple’s own app store. Executives declined to discuss specifics, such as financing, title, timeline, storylines, episode length or how people will watch the show. </blockquote> If any developers hear from Apple about this, I’d be interested to know (on the Q.T., if necessary, which it probably will be). </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://9to5mac.com/2016/03/24/apple-watch-edition-hidden/">Apple Downplaying the Apple Watch Edition in Both Online and Retail Stores</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Apple Downplaying the Apple Watch Edition in Both Online and Retail Stores’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/apple-watch-edition-downplay">★</a> </dt> <dd> Ben Lovejoy, writing for 9to5Mac: <blockquote> Apple has quietly revamped the Apple Watch section of its website, rendering the Edition almost invisible unless you specifically go looking for it. In addition, we’re hearing reports that Apple’s most expensive Watch is also being removed from some retail store displays. […] </blockquote> The big tell, as noted by Lovejoy later in the article, is that the Edition didn’t see any new watch bands this week. It was always a bit of a lark, a whimsy the company granted to Jony Ive. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/garry-shandling-its-great-that-garry-shandling-is-still-alive">Garry Shandling on Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Garry Shandling on Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/shandling-seinfeld">★</a> </dt> <dd> Was great when it first aired, heartbreaking now. Even just the episode title — “It’s Great That Garry Shandling Is Still Alive”. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/arts/television/garry-shandling-dies.html">Garry Shandling Dies at 66</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Garry Shandling Dies at 66’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/shandling">★</a> </dt> <dd> Heartbreaking news: <blockquote> Garry Shandling, a comedian who deftly walked a tightrope between comedic fiction and show-business reality on two cable sitcoms, died on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 66. A spokesman for the Los Angeles police confirmed the death but did not give a cause. TMZ, the gossip website, reported that Mr. Shandling had had a heart attack. Mr. Shandling, who began his comedy career as a writer and went on to become one of the most successful stand-up comics of the 1980s, was best known for “The Larry Sanders Show,” a dark look at life behind the scenes of a late-night talk show. It ran on HBO from 1992 to 1998. </blockquote> “You may now flip.” </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://fortune.com/amazon-jeff-bezos-prime/">Adam Lashinsky Profiles Jeff Bezos for Fortune</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Adam Lashinsky Profiles Jeff Bezos for Fortune’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/lashinsky-bezos">★</a> </dt> <dd> Great piece: <blockquote> One reason Bezos can concentrate narrowly at Amazon is the length of tenure of his top lieutenants. Jeff Wilke, for example, joined Amazon in 1999, and today he runs Amazon’s consumer business, which he calls “Amazon Classic.” He says Amazon’s annual planning process — and the detailed narratives its managers prepare for them — allows Bezos to closely “audit” the company’s efforts. Otherwise, says Wilke, “I would say his style has gone from being more prescriptive to teaching and refining.” Jeff Blackburn, an 18-year Amazon veteran who runs the company’s M&A activities and content businesses, describes Bezos as consistent in his selection process. “He still works 65 hours a week. He’s still connected to the office and doesn’t travel very much. He dives in on the same issues now that he did many years ago.” </blockquote> Lashinsky is one of the top writers in the racket. He’s really on fire lately. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://go.theinformation.com/d9e0d5">The Information: ‘Inside Tony Fadell’s Struggle to Build Nest’</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘The Information: ‘Inside Tony Fadell’s Struggle to Build Nest’’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/the-information-tony-fadell-nest">★</a> </dt> <dd> [Update: The Information’s website was down for a while, but is now back.] This story by Reed Albergotti for The Information is absolutely brutal. I’m not sure I’ve ever read an article quite like it, with on-the-record quotes documenting an utterly broken company culture. An extraordinary airing of a ton of dirty laundry. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/lexnfx/status/713037812166107136">Exhibit A</a>. Exhibit B, regarding the relationship between Tony Fadell and his Nest co-founder Matt Rogers: <blockquote> Mr. Fadell attended Mr. Rogers’ wedding last year. Afterward, Mr. Fadell ordered Mr. Rogers to cancel his month-long honeymoon in June, Mr. Rogers confirmed. A spokeswoman for Nest said it was a critical time at the company: Nest was announcing a refresh of its entire product line. When Mr. Rogers refused, Mr. Fadell told him that if he went, he wouldn’t have a job when he came back. Mr. Rogers went anyway. Mr. Fadell did not follow up on his threat. </blockquote> How exactly The Information got Fadell and Rogers to participate with this story boggles my mind. The backstory behind how this story came to be is probably just as interesting as the story itself — some real Machiavellian stuff. (The Information is a paywall publication, but they now offer “sharing” links — hopefully mine will work for DF’s readership. The Information is well worth the subscription price, in my opinion.) </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/24/north-carolina-anti-transgender-bathroom-law-dangerous-discrimination">North Carolina’s Anti-Trans Law Is Downright Dangerous</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘North Carolina’s Anti-Trans Law Is Downright Dangerous’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/north-caroline-dangerous">★</a> </dt> <dd> Zach Stafford, writing for The Guardian: <blockquote> I’m not jumping to conclusions here. An analysis of data compiled by the National Transgender Discrimination Survey last month shows that when young people are denied access to a restroom that aligns with their gender identity, their rates of suicide go up. Translation: not allowing trans youth to use a bathroom only perpetuates feelings of isolation or depression that lead 41% of transgender people to attempt kill themselves at some point in their lives, compared to the 4.6% in the general population. </blockquote> </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://medium.com/life-tips/dear-tim-cook-abc3fbffba1b">How the iPad Pro Changed Zoe Olson’s Illustrating Career</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘How the iPad Pro Changed Zoe Olson’s Illustrating Career’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/zoe-olson">★</a> </dt> <dd> Fascinating look at the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil (and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/procreate-sketch-paint-create./id425073498?mt=8">Procreate</a>) from an extraordinarily talented young illustrator. Update: How does a 15-year old afford an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil? <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.loopinsight.com/2016/03/24/young-designer-posts-note-to-tim-cook-about-ipad-pro-tim-cook-writes-back/">By saving her money from a year of babysitting work</a>. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://soundcloud.com/macworld/podcast-500">Macworld Podcast Episode 500</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Macworld Podcast Episode 500’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/macworld-podcast-500">★</a> </dt> <dd> Macworld: <blockquote> The Macworld podcast celebrates its 500th episode! Yes, 500 years ago — we mean 11 years ago, this podcast started humbly as an experiment by a Macworld intern turned staffer recorded partly in a conference room with a nerdy guest named…Glenn Fleishman calling in remotely. In this episode, after a welcome from one-time staffer Cyrus Farivar, Susie and Glenn talk with columnist and former editor Jason Snell about Apple’s introduction of the iPhone SE and Jason’s hands-on time with it. We also discuss the latest in the FBI/Apple case, the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and the iMessage security flaw patched this week. Glenn takes a literal field trip this episode, too, to check in with a long-time contributor about his ruminations on the paucity of thoughtfulness among pundit: We chew the cud with the Macalope. </blockquote> 500 episodes is a remarkable achievement. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.imore.com/imore-show-500">iMore Show Episode 500</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘iMore Show Episode 500’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/24/imore-500">★</a> </dt> <dd> Rene Ritchie: <blockquote> Rene, Serenity, and Georgia are joined by many friends and voices from the Apple community, Mobile Nations, and iMore, to celebrate the occasion of the 500th episode of our podcast. </blockquote> 500 episodes is a remarkable achievement. (And, yours truly was one of the special guests on this episode.) </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Wednesday, 23 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.buzzfeed.com/hamzashaban/questions-hang-over-fbi-after-apple-showdown-fizzles">BuzzFeed: ‘Questions Hang Over FBI After Apple Showdown Fizzles’</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘BuzzFeed: ‘Questions Hang Over FBI After Apple Showdown Fizzles’’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/buzzfeed-apple-fbi">★</a> </dt> <dd> Hamza Shaban, summarizing the state of the Apple-FBI fight for BuzzFeed: <blockquote> In an editorial Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal described the government’s clash with Apple as “reckless,” as the Justice Department “rushed to legal war with dubious theories,” and “fibbed” by stating that the San Bernardino case is all about one phone, even as law enforcement officials clamor for special access to encrypted devices in numerous cases across the country. In a letter to the Journal, FBI Director James Comey said, “You are simply wrong to assert that the FBI and the Justice Department lied about our ability to access the San Bernardino killer’s phone.” Comey’s remarks echo those of DOJ officials from earlier this week, who stated that the worldwide publicity of the San Bernardino case prompted interested parties to contact the FBI and share methods to gain access to the iPhone. But all previous attempts have fallen short, until now. “Lots of folks came to us with ideas,” Comey said. </blockquote> When the FBI lies it’s a “fib”. When you lie to the FBI it’s a “felony”. Good to see the Journal calling them out on it, though. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/23/11286052/walt-mossberg-apple-iphone-7-preview-predictions">Walt Mossberg: ‘The iPhone 7 Had Better Be Spectacular’</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Walt Mossberg: ‘The iPhone 7 Had Better Be Spectacular’’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/mossberg-spectacular">★</a> </dt> <dd> Here’s the thing: read Mossberg’s wish list at the end of his column. Let’s say Apple ships an iPhone this fall that checks off every single item on his list. (Don’t hold your breath waiting for a thicker phone so as to provide longer battery life, but for the sake of argument, let’s just say they do.) Would Mossberg deem such an iPhone “spectacular”? I doubt it. Mossberg also wants a reduced forehead and chin on the front face. I don’t think that’s coming until 2018, when I suspect Apple will ship an iPhone with no forehead or chin, just edge-to-edge display with the camera, sensors, and home button embedded in the display. That’s quite a way out in the future. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.theinformation.com/inside-apples-cloud-infrastructure-troubles">The Information on Apple’s Data Center Plans</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘The Information on Apple’s Data Center Plans’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/apple-data-centers">★</a> </dt> <dd> Amir Efrati and Steve Nellis, reporting for The Information (behind a paywall; <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://9to5mac.com/2016/03/23/apple-cloud-infrastructure-servers-snooping/">9to5Mac has a summary post</a>): <blockquote> Apple is also working on projects to design its own servers. At least part of the driver for this is to ensure that the servers are secure. Apple has long suspected that servers it ordered from the traditional supply chain were intercepted during shipping, with additional chips and firmware added to them by unknown third parties in order to make them vulnerable to infiltration, according to a person familiar with the matter. At one point, Apple even assigned people to take photographs of motherboards and annotate the function of each chip, explaining why it was supposed to be there. Building its own servers with motherboards it designed would be the most surefire way for Apple to prevent unauthorized snooping via extra chips. </blockquote> Cough, NSA, cough. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/north-carolina-lgbt-discrimintion">North Carolina House Passes Bill to Allow Anti-LGBT Discrimination</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘North Carolina House Passes Bill to Allow Anti-LGBT Discrimination’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/north-carolina-lgbt">★</a> </dt> <dd> Dominic Holden, reporting for BuzzFeed: <blockquote> The North Carolina House voted 83-25 to pass a sweeping bill on Wednesday that would negate all local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances in the state and ban transgender people from certain restrooms. Republican leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly had unveiled the legislation on Wednesday, and quickly began rushing the bill through a $42,000-a-day special legislative session fueled by rhetoric that portrayed transgender people as sex predators. Conservative lawmakers argued they are trying to protect privacy and promote safety in restrooms. </blockquote> A lot of conservatives have some really weird hang-ups about public restrooms. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.techinsider.io/pebble-layoffs-2016-3">Pebble Layoffs</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Pebble Layoffs’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/pebble-layoffs">★</a> </dt> <dd> Steve Kovach, writing for Tech Insider: <blockquote> Pebble, the buzzy startup credited for being one of the first companies to launch a modern smartwatch, is laying off 40 employees this week, CEO Eric Migicovsky told Tech Insider in an interview. That’s about 25% of its total staff. </blockquote> I still hope they make it, but its hard for a scrappy small company to compete against Apple, Samsung, LG, et al. Kovach: <blockquote> The Pebble layoffs come at a shaky time for the wearable technology market. FitBit, the leader in the wearable category, has seen its stock fall dramatically in recent months. Apple dropped the price of the Apple Watch by $50 to $299 on Monday, a sign that it’s not selling as well as hoped. </blockquote> I do not assume that the $50 price cut for the Sport models is a sign it’s not selling as well as hoped. My guess is that it’s a sign that, one year in, they’re significantly cheaper for Apple to produce. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15047018/how-nike-lost-stephen-curry-armour">How Nike Lost Stephen Curry to Under Armour</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘How Nike Lost Stephen Curry to Under Armour’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/curry-under-armour">★</a> </dt> <dd> Ethan Sherwood Strauss, writing for ESPN: <blockquote> Perhaps this is how Nike missed. Years of promoting Michael Jordan descendents made them oblivious to a player who shot the ball over that whole paradigm. It left them vulnerable to Kent Bazemore, and a company with less than 1 percent of the sneaker market. The next frontier of flight didn’t happen to be the next frontier of basketball. The next frontier happened to be Steph Curry, whose launches aren’t leaps, yet whose range commands a zeitgeist. </blockquote> Nike could have re-signed Curry for just $4 million — a mistake that is now costing them billions. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/disney-marvel-boycott-georgia-anti-gay-bill-1201737405/">Disney, Marvel Boycott Georgia Anti-Gay Bill</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Disney, Marvel Boycott Georgia Anti-Gay Bill’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/disney-georgia">★</a> </dt> <dd> Variety: <blockquote> “Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law,” a Disney spokesman said on Wednesday. </blockquote> Good for them. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://m.townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2016/03/21/nfl-to-georgia-religious-freedom-bill-may-cost-you-super-bowl-bid-n2137393">The NFL is warning Georgia as well.</a> </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/23/explainer-alert-heres-what-the-ipad-pros-embedded-apple-sim-means-for-you/">Matthew Panzarino Explains the New iPad Pro’s Embedded Apple SIM</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Matthew Panzarino Explains the New iPad Pro’s Embedded Apple SIM’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/23/ipad-pro-embedded-sim">★</a> </dt> <dd> It’s a great feature, but carrier restrictions make the overall situation as clear as mud. </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Tuesday, 22 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://mashable.com/2016/03/21/apple-liam-recycling-robot/">Inside Liam, Apple’s iPhone Recycling Robot</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Inside Liam, Apple’s iPhone Recycling Robot’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/22/liam">★</a> </dt> <dd> Samantha Murphy Kelly, writing for Mashable: <blockquote> Liam completes an iPhone disassembly process every 11 seconds, with dozens running through the system at all times. About 350 units are turned around each hour, equivalent to 1.2 million iPhones each year. Apple wouldn’t say when Liam started its work, but emphasized the project is still in the research and development stages. </blockquote> I’ll bet Apple is also working on robots that assemble devices. That was the idea at NeXT — “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSj6kvv7_Sg">the machine that builds the machines</a>”. The scale just wasn’t there. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.512pixels.net/blog/2016/3/40-years-in-40-s">Apple’s ‘40 Years in 40 Seconds’ Video Annotated</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Apple’s ‘40 Years in 40 Seconds’ Video Annotated’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/22/hackett-40">★</a> </dt> <dd> Stephen Hackett: <blockquote> On today’s Upgrade, Jason Snell suggested that I should post annotations based on Apple’s “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtY0K2fiFOA">40 Years in 40 Seconds</a>” video. So here we go. </blockquote> </dd> </dl> <hr class="ookiaks"/> <div class="article"> <h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/2016/03/thoughts_and_observations_loop_you_in" title="Permanent link to ‘Brief Thoughts and Observations Regarding Today’s ‘Loop You In’ Apple Event’">Brief Thoughts and Observations Regarding Today’s ‘Loop You In’ Apple Event</a></h1> <h6 class="dateline">Monday, 21 March 2016</h6> <ul> <li>I detect an undercurrent of “That’s it?” in the collective response to today’s event, but I’m not sure what Apple could have done differently. A new iPhone and a new iPad demand a proper on-stage unveiling. That the event was held in Town Hall and not a larger venue was a signal that Apple wasn’t going to unveil anything spectacular. It’s not reasonable to expect the spectacular from every single event.</li> <li>Speaking of the venue, Tim Cook even addressed what I’ve been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/10/loop-you-in">wondering</a> for a while: today’s event was likely the last Apple will hold in Town Hall. I’m all for nostalgia, but I for one will not miss Town Hall. The seats are incredibly cramped, and the seat backs are hard. Half of the chit-chat before the event starts is about how uncomfortable everyone finds the seats. And don’t get me started about the insanely crowded hands-on area.</li> <li>iPhone SE: If you listen to my podcast, you know how ambivalent I remain about the physical size of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 6S. I was really hoping that the iPhone SE would effectively have iPhone 6S specs — CPU and GPU performance, and similar camera quality. That seems to be exactly what Apple delivered. I honestly think this is the phone I’m going to use for the next six months. In hand, the iPhone SE is nearly indistinguishable from an iPhone 5S. Other than the matte finish on the chamfered edges, the only difference I could spot is the “SE” on the back of the phone. No curved sides, no curved glass. The list of tradeoffs compared to an iPhone 6S is short. The SE doesn’t support 3D Touch, has the slower first-generation Touch ID sensor, and the front-facing camera remains 5S-class. I can live with all those trade-offs. Oh, and its largest storage capacity is 64 GB, not 128.</li> <li>9.7-inch iPad Pro: This new iPad Pro is a bit more than just a smaller version of the 12.9-inch model. The display technology on the new one is a step ahead of its bigger sibling, and the new color temperature-shifting “True Tone” feature seems amazing. I really hope they can bring this feature to future iPhones. Apple really pounded on the angle that an iPad Pro is a credible replacement for a PC for many people. I was hoping to see updated MacBooks today, but as soon as Phil Schiller started in on his “replacement for a PC” angle and reiterated that the iPad Pro is Apple’s vision of the future of personal computing, I knew new Macs weren’t coming today. When Apple says “PC” they mean “Windows PC”, but the argument applies just as much to the Mac. In addition to its superior display, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro also has a superior camera: 12 megapixels instead of 8, f/2.2 aperture instead of f/2.4. It comes with a notable aesthetic price, however: an iPhone 6-style camera bump. Gross. The new Smart Keyboard is exactly what you think: cramped but serviceable. Could be great for <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-i-have-normal-hands-i-swear">someone</a> with small hands.</li> <li>New Apple Watch Bands: It seems clear that Apple is going to change the band lineup every six months. If you see one you like, you’d better buy it, because it might be gone in six months. I like the new nylon bands quite a bit.</li> <li>Renewable Energy: It was nice to see Lisa Jackson on stage. It strikes me as a little absurd though for Apple to describe their use of renewable energy as addressing climate change. Apple is a very big company, but surely their actions alone aren’t making a measurable difference in the climate. It’d be better if they simply held up their use of renewable energy as proof that it can be done, and as a challenge to other Fortune 500 companies to follow. They’re setting a great example, but they need other companies to do the same thing.</li> <li>Where’s Jony: As far as I could see, Jony Ive did not attend today’s event. He never appears on stage, but I’ve always seen him in the audience, usually seated next to Laurene Powell Jobs.</li> <li>Apple Turns 40: The “40 years in 40 seconds” opening video was fun. I loved the gag where they showed “Newton” and then scribbled it out. <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Brief Thoughts and Observations Regarding Today’s ‘Loop You In’ Apple Event’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/2016/03/thoughts_and_observations_loop_you_in">★</a></li> </ul> </div>  <hr class="ookiaks"/> <h2 class="dateline">Monday, 21 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/21/technology/andy-grove-dead/index.html">Andy Grove Dies at 79</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Andy Grove Dies at 79’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/21/grove">★</a> </dt> <dd> A true giant of this industry. “Only the paranoid survive.” </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/21/11279714/fbi-iphone-apple-trial-delay">FBI Asks to Delay Apple Trial</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘FBI Asks to Delay Apple Trial’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/21/fbi-delay-trial">★</a> </dt> <dd> T.C. Sottek, writing for The Verge: <blockquote> The FBI just filed a motion to delay Tuesday’s hearing in the San Bernardino iPhone case, claiming that an “outside party” may be able to help it break into the phone without Apple’s help. The motion comes after weeks of escalation tension in the case with Apple, the FBI, and other stakeholders arguing the case in public before it reached courts. “As the FBI continued to conduct its own research, and as a result of the worldwide publicity and attention on this case, others outside the US government have continued to contact the US government offering avenues of possible research,” the filing states. </blockquote> I get the feeling the FBI concluded they were going to lose, so they’re not even going to test it. This really makes them look foolish. Update: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/BrendanSasso/status/712058224451555328">It’s canceled</a>. </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Saturday, 19 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-poll-americans-split-on-unlocking-san-bernardino-shooters-iphone/">CBS News Poll: Americans Split on Unlocking San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘CBS News Poll: Americans Split on Unlocking San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/19/cbs-poll-apple-fbi">★</a> </dt> <dd> CBS News: <blockquote> In a CBS News/New York Times poll, 50 percent of the more than 1,000 people surveyed said Apple should unlock the phone, though nearly as many, 45 percent, think it should not. </blockquote> The DOJ is touting this poll, but though they still have more people on their side of the argument, the gap has closed since <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/02/23/poll-apple-fbi">the Pew poll a few weeks ago</a>. I also <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/02/23/pew-poll-misleading">once again question</a> the specific wording of the question in the poll — this is not about simply “unlocking” the iPhone in question. Also notable in these results: <blockquote> More than eight in 10 Americans think it’s at least somewhat likely that if Apple creates a way to unlock the iPhone it will create a precedent for the future, and two-thirds think it’s at least somewhat likely it will make other iPhones more vulnerable to hackers. </blockquote> </dd> </dl> <h2 class="dateline">Friday, 18 March 2016</h2> <dl class="linkedlist"> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.cloudstatusapp.com/?df">Cloud Status App</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Cloud Status App’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/18/cloud-status-app">★</a> </dt> <dd> My thanks to Server Density for sponsoring this week’s DF RSS feed to promote their new Cloud Status app. It’s a beautifully simple universal iOS app for developers. It monitors the status of top cloud service providers like AWS, Rackspace, Azure, Joyent, Google, and more, and alerts you with their latest status updates in real time. You pick the services you want alerts for, and that’s it. They’re not even trying to sell you anything here — the app is completely free of charge. If you’re a developer using any of these services, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://www.cloudstatusapp.com/?df">check it out</a>. </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://recode.net/2016/03/18/florida-jury-hands-hulk-hogan-a-115-million-victory-in-the-gawker-sex-tape-trial/">Florida Jury Hands Hulk Hogan a $115 Million Victory in the Gawker Sex Tape Trial</a> <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Florida Jury Hands Hulk Hogan a $115 Million Victory in the Gawker Sex Tape Trial’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/03/18/whatcha-gonna-do-when-hulkamania-destroys-you">★</a> </dt> <dd> Peter Kafka: <blockquote> Round one in the Hulk Hogan/Gakwer sex tape trial goes to the wrestler: A Florida jury found decisively in his favor, and says the Web site owes him $115 million in damages. </blockquote> Seems like a lot of people think Gawker can win this on appeal, but for now: whoa. Update: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/710968172791201793/photo/1">Statement from Nick Denton</a>. </dd> </dl> <hr class="ookiaks"/> <div class="article"> <h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/2016/02/san_bernardino_password_reset" title="Permanent link to ‘On the San Bernardino Suspect’s Apple ID Password Reset’">On the San Bernardino Suspect’s Apple ID Password Reset</a></h1> <h6 class="dateline">Sunday, 21 February 2016</h6> The latest news in the Apple-FBI legal fight has resulted in much confusion. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnpaczkowski/apple-terrorists-appleid-passcode-changed-in-government-cust">John Paczkowski, reporting for BuzzFeed</a>: <blockquote> The FBI has <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2716011/Apple-iPhone-Access-MOTION-to-COMPEL.pdf">claimed</a> that the password was changed by someone at the San Bernardino Health Department. Friday night, however, things took a further turn when the San Bernardino County’s official Twitter account <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://twitter.com/CountyWire/status/700887823482630144">stated</a>, “The County was working cooperatively with the FBI when it reset the iCloud password at the FBI’s request.” County spokesman David Wert told BuzzFeed News on Saturday afternoon the tweet was an authentic statement, but he had nothing further to add. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday; an Apple spokesperson said the company had no additional comment beyond prior statements. </blockquote> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2716011/Apple-iPhone-Access-MOTION-to-COMPEL.pdf">Here is what the FBI wrote in its legal motion</a>, in a footnote on the four ways Apple suggested they obtain the data they seek: <blockquote> (3) to attempt an auto-backup of the SUBJECT DEVICE with the related iCloud account (which would not work in this case because neither the owner nor the government knew the password the iCloud account, and the owner, in an attempt to gain access to some information in the hours after the attack, was able to reset the password remotely, but that had the effect of eliminating the possibility of an auto-backup); </blockquote> To unpack this, the “owner” is not Syed Farook, the shooter. The iPhone at the center of this was supplied by Farook’s employer, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. They are the “owner”. The “government” is the federal government: the FBI and the Department of Justice. The iPhone had been configured to back up to iCloud. However, at the time of the attack, it had not been backed up to iCloud for six weeks. Under warrant, Apple supplied the FBI with the data from that six-week-old backup. The FBI (for obvious reasons) would like the most recent six weeks of data from the phone, too.<a href="#fn1-2016-02-21">1</a> iCloud backups are triggered automatically when the phone is (a) on a known Wi-Fi network, and (b) plugged-in to power. Apple’s suggestion to the FBI was that if they took the iPhone to Farook’s office and plugged it in, it might trigger a backup. If that had worked, Apple could supply the FBI with the contents of that new backup, including the most recent six weeks of data. It is not clear to me from any of the reports I have read why the iPhone had not been backed up in six weeks. It’s possible that Farook had disabled iCloud backups, in which case this whole thing is moot.<a href="#fn2-2016-02-21">2</a> But it’s also possible the only reason the phone hadn’t been backed up in six weeks is that it had not been plugged-in while on a known Wi-Fi network in six weeks. The phone would have to be unlocked to determine this, and the whole point of this fight is that the phone can’t be unlocked. The FBI screwed this up by directing the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to reset Farook’s Apple ID password. They did not, and apparently could not, change anything on the phone itself. But once they reset the Apple ID password, the phone could not back up to iCloud, because the phone needed to be updated with the newly-reset Apple ID password — and they could not do that because they can’t unlock the phone. The key point is that you do not have to unlock an iPhone to have it back up to iCloud. But a locked iPhone can’t back up to iCloud if the associated Apple ID password has been changed. Again, there are two password-type things at play here. The Apple ID (iCloud) password, and the four-digit device passcode locking the iPhone. The county, at the behest of the FBI, reset the Apple ID password. This did not allow them to unlock the iPhone, and, worse, it prevented the iPhone from initiating a new backup to iCloud. How did the county reset Farook’s Apple ID password? We don’t know for sure, but the most likely answer is that if his Apple ID was his work-issued email account, then the IT department at the county could go to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://iforgot.apple.com/">iforgot.apple.com</a>, enter Farook’s work email address, and then access his email account to click the confirmation URL to reset the password. In short: <ul> <li>The data the FBI claims to want is on Farook’s iPhone.</li> <li>They already have access to his iCloud account.</li> <li>They might have been able to transfer the data on his iPhone to his iCloud account via an automated backup, but they can’t because they reset his Apple ID (iCloud) password.</li> </ul> The only possible explanations for this are incompetence or dishonesty on the part of the FBI. Incompetence, if they didn’t realize that resetting the Apple ID password could prevent the iPhone from backing up to iCloud. Dishonesty, if they directed the county to do this knowing the repercussions, with the goal of setting up this fight to force Apple to create a back door for them in iOS. I’m not sure which to believe at this point. I’d like to know exactly when this directive to reset the Apple ID password was given — ” in the hours after the attack” leaves a lot of wiggle room. <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘On the San Bernardino Suspect’s Apple ID Password Reset’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/2016/02/san_bernardino_password_reset">★</a> <div class="footnotes"> <hr/> <ol> <li id="fn1-2016-02-21"> Much (or all?) of the data stored on Apple’s iCloud backup servers is not encrypted. Or, if it is encrypted, it is encrypted in a way that Apple can decrypt. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://images.apple.com/privacy/docs/legal-process-guidelines-us.pdf">Apple has a PDF that describes the information</a> available to U.S. law enforcement from iCloud, but to me it’s not clear exactly what is available under warrant. I would bet a large sum of money that Apple is hard at work on an iCloud backup system that does store data encrypted in a way that Apple cannot read it without the user’s Apple ID password. <a href="#fnr1-2016-02-21" class="footnoteBackLink" title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.">↩︎</a> </li> <li id="fn2-2016-02-21"> Another possibility: Farook’s iCloud storage was full. If this were the case, presumably Apple could have granted his account additional storage to allow a fresh backup to occur. But again, this became moot as soon as the county reset the Apple ID password at the behest of the FBI. <a href="#fnr2-2016-02-21" class="footnoteBackLink" title="Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.">↩︎︎</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div>  <hr class="ookiaks"/> <div class="article"> <h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/2016/02/apples_app_problem" title="Permanent link to ‘Apple’s App Problem’">Apple’s App Problem</a></h1> <h6 class="dateline">Wednesday, 3 February 2016</h6> Following up on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/3/10900612/walt-mossberg-apple-iphone-ios-mac-osx-app-problems">Walt Mossberg’s column</a> regarding the quality of Apple’s first-party apps, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://www.loopinsight.com/2016/02/03/about-walt-mossberg-and-apples-app-problem/">Jim Dalrymple writes</a>: <blockquote> I understand that Apple has a lot of balls in the air, but they have clearly taken their eye off some of them. There is absolutely no doubt that Apple Music is getting better with each update to the app, but what we have now is more of a 1.0 version than what we received last year. Personally, I don’t care much about all the celebrities that Apple can parade around — I care about a music service that works. That’s it. If Apple Music (or any of the other software that has problems) was the iPhone, it would never have been released in the state it was. </blockquote> Software and hardware are profoundly different disciplines, so it’s hard to compare them directly. But it seems obvious to me that Apple, institutionally, has higher standards for hardware design and quality than it does for software. Maybe this is the natural result of the fact hardware standards must be high, because they can’t issue “hardware updates” over the air like they can with software. But the perception is now widespread that the balance between Apple’s hardware and software quality has shifted in recent years. I see a lot of people nodding their heads in agreement with Mossberg and Dalrymple’s pieces today. We went over this same ground a year ago in the wake of Marco Arment’s “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://marco.org/2015/01/04/apple-lost-functional-high-ground">Apple Has Lost the Functional High Ground</a>”, culminating in a really interesting (to me at least) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/thetalkshow/2015/06/09/ep-123">discussion with Phil Schiller at my “Live From WWDC” episode of The Talk Show</a>. That we’re still talking about it a year later — and that the consensus reaction is one of agreement — suggests that Apple probably does have a software problem, and they definitely have a perception problem. I’ll offer a small personal anecdote. Overall I’ve had great success with iCloud Photo Library. I’ve got over 18,000 photos and almost 400 videos. And I’ve got a slew of devices — iPhones, iPads, and Macs — all using the same iCloud account. And those photos are available from all those devices. Except, a few weeks ago, I noticed that on my primary Mac, in Photos, at the bottom of the main “Photos” view, where it tells you exactly how many photos and videos you have, it said “Unable to Upload 5 Items”. Restarting didn’t fix it. Waiting didn’t fix it. And clicking on it didn’t do anything — I wanted to know which five items couldn’t be uploaded, and why. It seems to me that anybody in this situation would want to know those two things. But damned if Photos would tell me. Eventually, I found <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7174772?start=0&tstart=0">this support thread</a> which suggested a solution: you can create a Smart Group in Photos using “Unable to upload to iCloud Photo Library” as the matching condition. Bingo: five items showed up. (Two of them were videos for which the original files couldn’t be found; three of them were duplicates of photos that were already in my library.) My little iCloud Photo Library syncing hiccup was not a huge deal — I was even lucky insofar as the two videos that couldn’t be found were meaningless. And I managed to find a solution. But it feels emblematic of the sort of nagging software problems people are struggling with in Apple’s apps. Not even the bug itself that led to these five items being unable to upload, but rather the fact that Photos knew about the problem but wouldn’t tell me the details I needed to fix it without my resorting to the very much non-obvious trick of creating a Smart Group to identify them. For me at least, “silent failure” is a big part of the problem — almost everything related to the whole <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/s/discoveryd">discoveryd/mDNSresponder fiasco</a> last year was about things that just silently stopped working. Maybe we expect too much from Apple’s software. But Apple’s hardware doesn’t have little problems like this. <a class="permalink" title="Permanent link to ‘Apple’s App Problem’" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/2016/02/apples_app_problem">★</a> </div>  <hr class="ookiaks"/> <div id="Footer"> <form id="SiteSearch" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/https://daringfireball.net/search" method="get" style="margin-bottom: 2.5em;"> <div> <input name="q" type="text" value="" style="margin-right: 8px; width: 66%;"/> <input type="submit" value="Search"/> </div> </form> <a href="/web/20160329191956/http://daringfireball.net/preferences/" title="Customize the font size and presentation options for this web site.">Display Preferences</a> Copyright © 2002–2016 The Daring Fireball Company LLC. </div> <div id="SidebarTheDeck"> <script type="text/javascript"> // <![CDATA[ (function(id) { document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="' + '//web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://connect.decknetwork.net/deck' + id + '_js.php?' + (new Date().getTime()) + '"></' + 'script>'); })("DF"); var deckDiv = document.getElementById("SidebarTheDeck"); var sidebarDiv = document.getElementById("Sidebar"); sidebarDiv.appendChild(deckDiv); // ]]> </script> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329191956/http://decknetwork.net/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20160329191956im_/http://daringfireball.net/graphics/madison/via_the_deck.png" alt="Ads via The Deck" class="the_deck_promo" width="70"/> Ads via The Deck </a> </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-593949-1']); _gaq.push (['_gat._anonymizeIp']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 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