MacSurfer's Headline News™

Apple/Macintosh

"ec-o-sys-tem: The key to Apple's success" ["The key to understanding Apple's ecosystem is this: The company focuses on innovating a few great things that work together to change markets. Apple's goal is not necessarily to be first, but always best. The areas of Apple innovation are then linked together to create a holistic experience."] iMore 11:56 AM

"U.S. Senate panel releases draft of controversial encryption bill: Two U.S. senators on Wednesday issued a formal draft of a controversial bill that would give courts the power to order technology companies like Apple to help authorities break into encrypted devices or communications for law enforcement or intelligence purposes." ["Companies must ensure their products 'be capable of complying,' the bill states. Critics say that amounts to a ban on strong encryption. The latest version of the bill narrows the scope of cases where a court can issue an order. Those include crimes that caused or could cause death or serious injury or that involve drug offenses or child victims, in addition to foreign intelligence operations, according to the text."] Reuters 3:17 PM

"Senators Issue Encryption Proposal That Requires Firms to Comply With Court Orders" WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 4:25 PM

"FBI paid professional hackers one-time fee to crack San Bernardino iPhone" ["The bureau in this case did not need the services of the Israeli firm Cellebrite, as some earlier reports had suggested, people familiar with the matter said. The U.S. government now has to weigh whether to disclose the flaws to Apple, a decision that probably will be made by a White House-led group."] Washington Post [Free Registration Required] 6:55 AM

"FBI used professional hackers to crack San Bernardino shooter's iPhone — Report" Silicon Valley Business Journal 12:06 PM

"How a Japanese Pinball Maker Helped the FBI Crack the San Bernardino iPhone" Bloomberg 7:46 AM

"California phone decryption bill defeated: A national debate over smartphone encryption arrived in Sacramento on Tuesday as legislators defeated a bill penalizing companies that don't work with courts to break into phones, siding with technology industry representatives who called the bill a dangerous affront to privacy." Sacramento Bee 8:47 AM

"Apple-FBI row is just one example of 'hourly friction' between digital world and law, says Box CEO: Box chief exec Aaron Levie says the case of the encrypted iPhone shows that 'a much broader conversation' is required surrounding outdated government legislation around the digital economy." ZDNet 7:45 AM

"Employee Choice Program: Surveying the prevalence and importance of offering employees technology choice" ["Consistent with the 2015 JAMF Software Apple Trends Survey, employees choose Mac because it is easier to use, offers the applications they want and need to be productive, and is the more secure computer for protecting personal and professional data."] JAMF Software 8:55 AM