Apple Jan. 27 launch event... what will it be?

[Jeff Lebowski]

There's finger pointing going on.

The government was asking them to build a back door to access encrypted data. I think that means when the courts would issue a warrant, they could then use that back door. Apple says, we don't build back doors for anyone. So as a matter a principle, to comply with the UK's demand for government access, they are taking away the end-to-end encryption, leaving them with standard encryption.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj54eq4vejo

Seems like an odd way to respond. Everybody loses.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wire...ment-119046304

The episode illustrates “one of the fundamental flaws in government efforts to undermine encryption," said Mike Chapple, an IT professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Faced with having to choose between security and complying with government regulations, companies like Apple tend to remove security features entirely, said Chapple, a former computer scientist at the National Security Agency.

“The net effect is reduced security for everyone. If other governments follow the UK’s lead, we risk a future where strong encryption is functionally outlawed, which puts all of us at risk not just to government surveillance but also to eavesdropping by other bad actors.”

[Bo Diddley]

Seems like an odd way to respond. Everybody loses.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wire...ment-119046304

User privacy vs. national security--one of the modern debates.

[YOhio]

Seems like an odd way to respond. Everybody loses.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wire...ment-119046304

I think Apple is betting that it will sufficiently scare other governments into not making the same request. If they give the UK a backdoor then every other government in the world will ask the same, effectively defeating a primary purpose of encryption.

[beefytee]

I understand Apple's stand here. If they can't keep the data secure and encrypted from everybody, it is better to remove any semblance that it is secure, because it is not.

[dabrockster]

Speaking of BlackBerry. I truly miss my Palm Pre. LOVED that smart phone. I believe it was bought out and done away with. I think it was well ahead of iPhone back when smart phone first came out.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I am now officially going all-in with Apple. I purchased a iPhone 16 Pro Max. It should be delivered tomorrow. I am now using a Mac Mini as my office computer, and my home office is a docking station with a M1 Macbook Air.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I am now officially going all-in with Apple. I purchased a iPhone 16 Pro Max. It should be delivered tomorrow. I am now using a Mac Mini as my office computer, and my home office is a docking station with a M1 Macbook Air.

Welcome to the dark side. Resistance is futile.

[Shaka]

Welcome to the dark side. Resistance is futile.

I hate that I'm firmly embedded in the dark side. My long-time IBM employed father is rolling in his grave.

[BigFatMeanie]

We're a "blended family"

Work computer: Lenovo laptop. I can get a Macbook if I wanted to, but I just don't see the need.
Home computers: 4 Self-built PCs (desktop, organ, media, and security cams)
Home server: Dell Poweredge R620
Wife's laptop: Framework 16 (PC)

My phone: iPhone
Wife's phone: iPhone
My tablet: iPad
Wife's tablet: iPad

No Apple TV or AirPods or Apple Watch or Vision or any other Apple gadgets beyond phones and tablets.

[Northwestcoug]

Other than a Garmin-type watch for the son, Apple has dominated the NWC clan market. Laptops, iPad, phones, watches, AirPods, and Apple TV. We're so saturated that a iMac sits largely unused.

Baaaaa!

[MartyFunkhouser]

My early thoughts on the switch over to iOS. The clear biggest difference to me is that the operating system just runs a lot more smooth. With every Android phone that I've had, it frequently felt like there was slowdown in the operating system and apps. It seemed like this would happen even with the high end devices.

In the past, I really wanted Android because of the customization. Over time, I really found that I wasn't using it. At first, I would try different launchers, set up a bunch of widgets, etc. The screen mirroring to my work Mac is a great unexpected feature of it.

I'm wondering why I didn't switch over earlier.

[Moliere]

My early thoughts on the switch over to iOS. The clear biggest difference to me is that the operating system just runs a lot more smooth. With every Android phone that I've had, it frequently felt like there was slowdown in the operating system and apps. It seemed like this would happen even with the high end devices.

In the past, I really wanted Android because of the customization. Over time, I really found that I wasn't using it. At first, I would try different launchers, set up a bunch of widgets, etc. The screen mirroring to my work Mac is a great unexpected feature of it.

I'm wondering why I didn't switch over earlier.

I have all Apple products for personal use (Macbook, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, etc.), and I doubt I'd ever switch because they are so easy and integrate so well. I use a Dell/Windows laptop for work and I also think it's superior for the work I do (Microsoft based apps, especially Excel...I'm in Excel 90% of the time I'm on my computer). So for me, having Apple for personal and Windows for work is the perfect solution.

I do need to upgrade my iPhone since I have a 13. I'm waiting for the new model to come out this fall...

[MartyFunkhouser]

I'm now 4-months into going all-in with Apple products. I now also have an Apple Watch. It is really nice to walk up to my desktop with my watch on and have it immediately unlock because I'm wearing the watch. The switching over of AirPods from phone, laptop, desktop, etc. is seamless. Apple just does a great job with an ecosystem that works well together. I am wanting to get an Apple Mini soon for my home office, instead of using a docking station and my M1 Macbook.

The one thing that confuses me though is how Apple is so far behind in AI integration. The launch of the iPhone 16 really touted the built for Apple Intelligence, but nothing has really happened with it. It seems like that at the last launch even that Apple Intelligence was pretty much non-existent was well. For all the Apple has been able to do, they really seem to be falling behind on AI integration.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm now 4-months into going all-in with Apple products. I now also have an Apple Watch. It is really nice to walk up to my desktop with my watch on and have it immediately unlock because I'm wearing the watch. The switching over of AirPods from phone, laptop, desktop, etc. is seamless. Apple just does a great job with an ecosystem that works well together. I am wanting to get an Apple Mini soon for my home office, instead of using a docking station and my M1 Macbook.

The one thing that confuses me though is how Apple is so far behind in AI integration. The launch of the iPhone 16 really touted the built for Apple Intelligence, but nothing has really happened with it. It seems like that at the last launch even that Apple Intelligence was pretty much non-existent was well. For all the Apple has been able to do, they really seem to be falling behind on AI integration.

Totally agree.

Although I see that the new airpods now offer live translation. That will be cool.

[Copelius]

How hard is it to have one Apple product with everything else PC/Android? I just found out I won an award that includes a new ipad for my business. Not sure What I will use it for yet, but free stuff