Let’s Talk Apple — Ep. 73 (September 2019)

Panel:

• Bart Busschots (host) – @bbusschots
• Gazmaz from the My Mac Podcast – @gazmaz
• Nick Riley – @spligosh

The show starts with a look at some followups to previous stories including the Project Zero bug and tariffs on the Mac Pro. Next is a quick look at some quick Apple HR and acquisition news. The four main stories are the so-called Checkm8 un-patchable jailbreak, developments in Apple services (specifically Apple TV+ & Apple Arcade), new Apple OSes (mostly iOS), and new Apple hardware. The show finishes with a quick rundown of some other Apple-related stories that made the news in September.

You’ll find detailed show notes below the fold, and if you enjoy this free show, please consider clicking on the donate button at the top of the left side bar – the show is free for you to listen to, but not for Bart to Produce!

Followup

1. The Project Zero iPhone Vulnerabilities & Exploits
   • We now know the vulnerabilities detailed by Google’s project zero were used by the Chinese Government to target the Uyghur Muslim community — techcrunch.com/…, daringfireball.net/… & tidbits.com/…
   • We can also now place the attacks in a larger context where other bugs in other OSes were also used by the Chinese government to target the Uyghurs — www.imore.com/…, gizmodo.com/…, www.forbes.com/… & nakedsecurity.sophos.com/…
   • Apple released a message about the hacks. They disputed Google’s original 2-year timeline, and their use of the phrase “mass exploitation”, saying instead that the attacks were targeted at the Uyghurs and lasted for about 2 months. Apple also said they were already aware of the bugs and working on patches when they were contacted by Project Zero — www.apple.com/…
   • Project Zero have been criticised for not sharing information around the use of the vulnerabilities in a responsible way — vector.libsyn.com/…
2. Apple’s European court case against the EU Commission’s €13Bn ‘tax’ bill in Ireland got under way (it’s expected to last months and to be appealed to the ECJ, which could take years):
   • A great summary of how things stood before the case opened: Explainer: Apple’s €13bn tax appeal has huge implications — www.irishtimes.com/…
   • Apple says $14 billion EU tax order ‘defies reality and common sense’ — www.reuters.com/…
   • Apple CFO Luca Maestri will lead appeal against the European Commission’s $14 billion order — www.imore.com/…
   • EU Tax Bill ‘Defies Reality and Common Sense,’ Says Apple — www.macobserver.com/…
   • Apple Claims EU Does Not Understand Its Business — www.macobserver.com/…
3. Government Investigations of Apple continue:
   • 🇺🇸 House Judiciary Committee Investigating Apple Regarding ‘Competition in Digital Markets’ (PDF) — daringfireball.net/…
   • 🇺🇸 Congress wants Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon emails as probe heats up — arstechnica.com
   • 🇺🇸 U.S. Congress asks Spotify to provide details on Apple’s alleged anticompetitive practices — www.imore.com/…
   • Related: The NYT reported that Apple changed its app store algorithm so it favours Apple’s own apps less. Apple say the algorithm was not giving them an unfair advantage, but instead that they’re handicapped their own apps for the good of the ecosystem — www.nytimes.com/…
   • Related: Not to be out-done, the Washington Post featured a story attacking Apple for copying good ideas from apps in the app store: About That Washington Post Story on Apple Copying Features From Top Apps in the App Store — daringfireball.net/…
4. The Mac Pro and the US/China Tariff War:
   • Apple were granted 10 of the 15 tariff exemptions they applied for for the new Mac Pro — www.imore.com/…
   • Redesigned Mac Pro will be made in the US — www.imore.com/…
   • Apple denied tariff relief on five Mac Pro components — www.imore.com/… & Apple to Pay 25% Tariff on Chinese-Made Mac Pro Components — www.macobserver.com/…
   • Apple is investing $1 billion in India in efforts to move production outside of China — www.imore.com/…
5. Apple Card:
   • Walgreens joins Apple Card’s rewards program to offer 3% Daily Cash on purchases — techcrunch.com/…
   • T-Mobile is the Only Wireless Provider to Offer 3% Daily Cash on Apple Card — www.t-mobile.com/…
   • Apple Card now accepted through Apple’s Trade In Program — www.imore.com/…
6. Galaxy Fold:
   • Samsung is canceling all Galaxy Fold preorders so it can ‘rethink the entire customer experience’ — www.theverge.com/…
   • The Galaxy Fold is now available for purchase in the US — techcrunch.com/…
   • Review: Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is finally here. Handle with care — www.washingtonpost.com/…
   • Related: Microsoft announced their own folding phone, but it won’t ship until late 2020 — thenextweb.com/…

Apple HR & Acquisition News

• Starbucks picks up Apple VP Isabel Ge Mahe to go — www.imore.com/…
• Disney CEO Bob Iger resigns from Apple board as competition between the two companies nears — www.imore.com/…
• Steve Dowling, Apple’s VP of Communications is leaving. Phill Schiller will take over his responsibilities until he’s replaced — www.vox.com/…
• Apple Hires AstraZeneca Chief Information Officer David Smoley — www.bloomberg.com/…
• Apple confirms buyout of UK effects firm iKinema — www.imore.com/…

Main Stories

1. The Checkm8 iOS vulnerability
   • Summary:
     • An un-patchable vulnerability has been found in the bootrom in Apple SOCs from the A5 up to and including the A11, this means all iPhones from the 1Phone 4S up to an including the iPhone X are vulnerable.
     • The exploit requires the phone to be tethered to a computer via the lightning port to work, so cannot be exploited remotely
     • Exploits are not permanent, so do not survive a reboot
     • The vulnerability does not in any way affect the secure enclave, so it cannot be used to break into a locked device
     • The vulnerability does enable an un-patchable tethered jail break
   • Checkm8, the iPhone 4s to iPhone X bootrom exploit, explained — www.imore.com/…
   • New Checkm8 jailbreak released for all iOS devices running A5 to A11 chips — www.zdnet.com/…
   • Developer of Checkm8 explains why iDevice jailbreak exploit is a game changer — arstechnica.com
   • Checkm8 jailbreak and AltStore put cracks in Apple’s walled garden — nakedsecurity.sophos.com/…
2. New Services
   • Apple TV+ will launch on 1 November in 100 countries and will cost $4.99 per month for a family:
     • Apple’s TV+: Everything you need to know! — www.imore.com/…
     • You’ll get Apple TV+ for 1 year free with the purchase of an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV, but only once — www.imore.com/…
     • Oprah’s Book Club Coming to Apple TV+ and Apple Books — www.macobserver.com/…
     • Apple TV+: What’s New, Release Dates, Actors, and More — www.imore.com/…
     • Related: Disney bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ is just $12.99 — www.imore.com/… & D23 members get 33% off a three-year subscription to Disney+ (yes, even the free membership) — www.imore.com/…
   • Apple Arcade:
     • Apple Arcade launched at $4.99 per month for the whole family — arstechnica.com
     • Apple has almost 100 developer studios making games for Apple Arcade — www.imore.com/…
     • Some Apple Arcade titles will be available on console, too — www.imore.com/…
     • All Apple Arcade Games available now (and what’s coming soon) — www.imore.com/…
     • Opinion: Early review suggests Apple Arcade struggling with 4K — www.imore.com/…
     • Related: Google introduces Play Pass in Response to Apple Arcade — www.macobserver.com/…
3. New OSes — arstechnica.com/…
   • As well as releasing new OSes for modern devices, Apple also provided security patches for some older OSes so older devices that can’t upgrade can still be protected:
     • Apple issues iOS 13.1.1 and security updates for every OS, even iOS 12 — www.intego.com/…
     • Apple releases watchOS 5.3.2 for Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 — www.imore.com/…
   • Apple is releasing macOS Catalina in October — techcrunch.com/…
   • iOS 13 (quick-rolling bug fix and security updates — first 13.0, then 13.1, then 13.1.1, then 13.1.2) — arstechnica.com/…
     • Adds new Bluetooth permission prompt to combat user tracking. Already catching out apps like Facebook:
       • Facebook says location data in iOS 13, Android 10 may be confusing — nakedsecurity.sophos.com/…
       • Facebook: Remember how we promised we weren’t tracking your location? Psych! Can’t believe you fell for that — www.theregister.co.uk/…
       • The new iPhone software update is already catching apps like Facebook being shady — www.businessinsider.com/…
     • There are of course legitimate reasons for apps to request Bluetooth access: Here’s why so many apps are asking to use Bluetooth on iOS 13 — www.theverge.com/…
   • How to use text editing gestures on iPhone — www.imore.com/…
   • How to use external hard drives with your iPhone or iPad in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 — www.imore.com/…
   • How to keep your iPhone personal hotspot always on in iOS 13 — www.imore.com/…
   • Spotify Getting Siri Support in iOS 13 — www.macobserver.com/…
   • There is a matching version of iPad OS for each iOS:
     • How to use a mouse or trackpad with your iPhone or iPad — www.imore.com/…
   • tvOS 13 brings Apple Arcade and nascent multi-account support
     • Opinion: tvOS 13: The MacStories Review – MacStories — www.macstories.net/…
4. New Hardware
   • iPad:
     • iPad updated to 10.2" screen and starts at $329 — www.imore.com/…
       • iPad 7 Teardown Show Little Change — www.macobserver.com/…
     • Apple make its 1TB iPad Pro models much more appealing by slashing price by $200 — www.imore.com/…
   • Apple Watch:
     • Apple Watch Series 5 gets Always-On Display and starts at $399. Re-gains ceramic option and gains titanium option — tidbits.com/… & arstechnica.com/…
     • Series 4 discontinued, but Series 3 retained and price dropped to $199
     • Apple Watch Series 5 teardown reveals it’s basically a Series 4 — www.imore.com/… & Teardown of 40mm Apple Watch Series 5 uncovers new battery design — www.imore.com/…
     • The Apple Watch Series 5 titanium model is 13% lighter than stainless steel model — www.imore.com/…
     • The Apple Watch’s noise detection feature is surprisingly very accurate — www.imore.com/…
     • Apple introduces new stylish two-tone Sport Loop bands — www.imore.com/…
     • What is an LTPO display? — www.pcworld.idg.com.au/…
     • Related: 7 out of 10 Apple Watch customers are first time buyers, not upgraders — 9to5mac.com/…
     • Opinion: Apple Watch Series 5 review roundup: The always-on display is a winner — www.imore.com/…
   • iPhones — arstechnica.com
     • 3 new iPhones:
       • iPhone 11, basically updated iPhone XR with dual camera, starting at $699
       • iPhone 11 Pro, successor to the iPhone XS, with triple camera, starting at $999
       • iPhone 11 Pro Max, successor to iPhone XS Max, also with triple camera, starting at $1099
     • Three older models retained with price drops:
       • iPhone XR to $599
       • iPhone 8 Plus to $549
       • iPhone 8 to $449
     • Tear-downs:
       • iFixit performs teardown of iPhone 11, here’s what’s inside — www.imore.com/…
       • iFixit Teardown of iPhone 11 Pro — www.macobserver.com/…
       • iFixit’s iPhone 11 Pro Max teardown finds higher-capacity battery, 4GB of RAM — arstechnica.com & iPhone 11 Pro Max Teardown — www.ifixit.com/…
     • Stress tests show that while not indestructible, the iPhones 11 are very rugged indeed:
       • iPhone 11 Pro survives grueling stress test with flying colors — www.imore.com/…
       • iPhone 11 and 11 Pro drop test: We couldn’t crack these phones, but we broke the camera — www.cnet.com/…
       • iPhone 11 drop tests prove even the toughest glass in a smartphone can break — www.imore.com/…
       • iPhone 11 bend test shows it’s built like a tank — www.imore.com/…
     • The iPhone 11 Pro has the best display on a smartphone, says DisplayMate — www.imore.com/…
       • Related: iPhone 11 will alert you when a non-genuine Apple display is installed — www.imore.com/…
     • Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro axes 3D Touch in favor of Haptic Touch — www.imore.com/… & Haptic Touch: The Ultimate Guide — www.imore.com/…
     • Here are the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Camera Features — www.macobserver.com/…
     • I tested Night mode on iPhone 11 Pro in the worst possible lighting conditions and this is how it turned out — www.imore.com/… & Night Mode Showdown: iPhone 11 vs. Pixel 3 vs. Galaxy Note 10 vs. P30 Pro — www.imore.com/…
     • Why does the new iPhone 11 Pro have 3 cameras? — techcrunch.com/…
     • Multiple camera simultaneous recording coming to iPhone XS and iPhone XR, not just iPhone 11 — 9to5mac.com/…
     • An Exclusive Look Inside Apple’s A13 Bionic Chip — www.wired.com/…
     • The U1 chip in the iPhone 11 is the beginning of an Ultra Wideband revolution — sixcolors.com/…
     • iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Taptic Engines are made from 100% recycled Rare Earth Elements — www.imore.com/…
     • iPhone 11 Pro Max is the new king of Consumer Reports’ smartphone rankings — www.imore.com/…
     • Despite a lot of speculation that there was, it now seems there is no secret bilateral Qi charging hardware in the iPhones 11 — www.imore.com/…
     • According to analysts, the iPhones 11 are selling well:
       • iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max account for majority of preorders, says analyst — www.imore.com/…
       • Analyst says iPhone 11 demand is stronger than expected, possibly thanks to colors — www.imore.com/…
       • More analysts agreeing with Kuo, report strong iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro demand — www.imore.com/…
       • New iPhone production reportedly increasing by up to 10% — www.imore.com/…
       • Analyst says iPhone 11 demand is stronger than expected, possibly thanks to colors — www.imore.com/…
       • iPhone launch massively popular in India — www.imore.com/…
     • Opinion: iPhone 11 review roundup: The iPhone most people should buy — www.imore.com/…
     • Opinion: iPhone 11 Pro review roundup: Amazing camera, mind-blowing battery life — www.imore.com/…
     • Opinion: Your new iPhone 11 doesn’t have 5G, but you shouldn’t care — www.cnet.com/…

Quick Stories

• PSA: HomePod Supports Live Radio Requests, But Even UK Users Can’t Stream Most BBC Stations — www.macrumors.com/…
• Apple News+ Now Available in Australia, UK — www.macobserver.com/…
• New Repair Programs:
  • Apple begins a screen replacement program for aluminium Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3 — www.imore.com/…
  • Some iPhone 6S units aren’t turning on, so Apple launched a repair program — arstechnica.com
• Apple launches Apple Music web player for everyone — www.imore.com/…
• Apple continuing its health push with the launch of three new studies into hearing, heart health, and menstrual cycles & reproduction — arstechnica.com/…
• Apple Care Improvements:
  • Apple adds AppleCare+ to AirPods and Beats headphones — www.imore.com/…
  • AppleCare+ is now available as a monthly subscription for some devices — www.imore.com/…
  • Is Your AppleCare+ Expiring? You Can Now Renew It — tidbits.com/…
• Apple introduces billing grace period for App Store subscriptions — www.imore.com/… & Apple’s Billing Grace Period Should Give You Peace of Mind — www.macobserver.com/…
• Apple’s Social Responsibility Efforts:
  • Apple-backed China Clean Energy Fund has invested in three wind farms — www.imore.com/…
  • Apple teams up with Conservation International to save African grasslands — www.imore.com/…
  • Apple picks up a UN Climate Action Award — www.imore.com/…
  • 🇺🇸 Apple’s Tim Cook and Deirdre O’Brien Urge Supreme Court to Protect Dreamers by Upholding DACA — www.macrumors.com/… & Apple CEO Tim Cook and VP Deirdre O’Brien offer support for DACA — www.imore.com/…
• Apple schedules fiscal Q4 2019 earnings release for October 30th — 9to5mac.com/…