Apple posts public letter in response to FBI iPhone unlock request

Apple CEO Tim Cook: "We believe the contents of your iPhone are none of our business.."

The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers. We oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand.  - Tim Cook

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple is now involved in a huge dispute with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over that agency's requests to build a backdoor on the iPhone. The imbroglio is rooted in the FBI's request that Apple unlock an iPhone used in a San Bernandino shooting-related court case. While Apple has often helped the FBI in legally providing data that they have, the company is worried that creating a backdoor on the iPhone's OS sets a dangerous precedent.

Cook's public letter states the following.

 "The FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.

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Ultimate Ears and Red Bull Music Academy partner on UE MEGABOOM Shockwave Edition

Ultimate Ears has expanded their range of mutlifunctional Bluetooth headphones into various special editions. Ultimate Ears just announced UE MEGABOOM Shockwave Edition in partnership with Red Bull Music Academy, an international traveling series of festivals for those artists who make a difference in today’s musical landscape.

Bringing to life the natural synergies of Ultimate Ears and Red Bull, as both brands value the importance of music in people’s lives, appreciate the energy that music provides, and celebrate an adventurous spirit, the limited UE MEGABOOM Shockwave Edition features Red Bull colors and essence, as well as the epic, 360-degree sound Ultimate Ears is known for.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge to feature wireless charging and water resistance

The above video is an Indonesian advertisement for the Next Galaxy and clearly shows a smartphone that, while looking nearly identical to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, also brings a certain feature that those devices do not have, namely water resistance.

The above  ad also shows that the Galaxy S7 will have wireless charging/ Even the Galaxy S7 name was all but confirmed in the accompanying product pages and text but has since been removed. Good to see that Samsung has heeded user's requests to return the water resistance feature that set the Galaxy S5 apart from the pack. It looks doubtful if we will see removable backplates and batteries come back to the Galaxy S7 though.

Another inidication of the new Galaxy's design comes from case maker Spigen which similarly showed off what the new device will look like.

Source: The Verge

Apple Pay reportedly coming to China this week

Chinese iPhone and Apple Watch user are likely going to be getting Apple Pay mobile payments capabilities this week accordting to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). A follow up report from Reuters states that two other banking institutions, China Guangfa Bank Co and China Construction Bank Corp, will be offering the service as well.

China is the fifth country to go live, after the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. Apple Pay in Canada is only limited to American Express customers and retailers.

Source: 9to5Mac