Apple Loses Chief of Security Over Lost iPhone Prototype

Those paying attention will no doubt remember the story about one unlucky fellow who received a visit from the police, along with a team of security personnel from Apple. Well, it turns out that the fallout from that visit isn’t yet over, with Apple losing its Vice President of Global Security over the matter.y.

Apple allegedly lost yet another iPhon prototype recently, and using the power of Find My iPhone they decided it was in the possession of a Bernal Heights resident. Apple and the San Francisco Police then rolled up to the guy’s house and asked for it back. Apple’s security team even offered to buy it back, but alas, the man in question didn’t have it…
Since then, there have been claims and counterclaim galore about just what went on, and whether the Apple security team claimed to be members of the police force or not. It’s all a little murky from here on in, but suffice it to say, the case isn’t going away just yet.

Now, Apple’s Vice President of Global Security, Joh Theriault, has retired from Apple, according to 9to5Mac. The report has been confirmed by AllThingsD.

Apple is notoriously secretive when it comes to its prototypes, and losing two in 18 months is a huge embarrassment.

The lost iPhone 4S prototype was never found, just to add insult to injury.

Sn0wBreeze Gets Updated for iOS 5.0.1 Beta 2

It seems it was only yesterday that were telling you Sn0wBreeze had been updated for iOS 5.0.1 beta. Oh wait, it was just yesterday!

With the release of iOS 5.0.1 beta 2 earlier today, iOS hacker iH8Sn0w has updated his Sn0wBreeze jailbreak tool to version v2.8b10 making it compatible with the latest beta firmware version…
This is the full changelog:

===============================
sn0wbreeze v2.8 [BETA 10]:
===============================
* Supports iOS 5.0 (9A334)/5.0.1-b2 (9A404)
* Fixed iBooks sandbox crashing issues (as of 2.8b9).
* Fixed location services issues with iPhone 3GS
users running the iPad baseband (as of 2.8b9).
* Re-added iPad baseband install option to iPhone 3GS.
* Removes UDID requirement/Beta timer in 5.0.1.
* Tethered devices are booted via iBooty which is
extracted to the Desktop after running sn0wbreeze.
===============================
Tethered?
===============================
- iPhone 3GS (old bootrom)…NO
- iPhone 3GS (new bootrom)..YES
- iPhone 4 (GSM)…………YES
- iPhone 4 (CDMA)………..YES
- iPod Touch 3G………….YES
- iPod Touch 4…………..YES
- iPad 1G……………….YES
===============================

************************************************
** iPhone 3GS iPad baseband (06.15.00) users: **
************************************************
- Re-flash the iPad baseband via sn0wbreeze
if you restore(d) to a stock 5.0 firmware.
************************************************

Now available at: http://ih8sn0w.com/

// iH8sn0w

Although it’s been confirmed to work with iOS 5.0.1 beta 2, RedSn0w hasn’t been updated yet, but we assume it’s just a matter of time.

iOS 5.0.1 Beta 2 Will Expire on December 14

Hot on the heels of the release of iOS 5.0.1 beta 2 to developers, iOS hacker extraordinaire iH8Sn0w just gave us the heads up on the expiration date of the beta firmware.

According to iH8Sn0w, iOS 5.0.1 beta 2 will expire on December 14th, at 8pm EST. Concretely, this means that you will have to update your firmware before that time, or your device will be completely useless until you restore…
iOS 5.0.1 beta 2 was seeded this morning to developers. We have already confirmed that it can be jailbroken using RedSn0w, which we have demonstrated on video.


Apple’s Supply Chain Secrets Revealed

Have you ever wondered how Apple maintains such high profit margins on products like the iPad? The company manages to do so in an industry where other manufacturers like HP and Amazon reportedly take losses on their tablet sales.

Perhaps the biggest factor in Apple’s operational success is the recently-named CEO Tim Cook. Cook spent the last decade turning Apple into a well-oiled machine. Bloomberg reveals this and more in a recent article about Apple’s supply chain secrets…
The report contains several interesting tales about the Cupertino company’s impressive operations. At one point, Apple spent $50 million dollars to buy up all available air freight space just before the holidays to ensure its iMacs would ship on time.

There’s another story about the time that Johnny Ive came up with the idea to put a green LED light in Apple’s new line of MacBooks. But the only way to achieve this was to purchase and modify some expensive lasers. Well Apple didn’t just buy a few of them, it bought hundreds of the $250,000 machines — enough to gain exclusivity on the lasers so no other manufacturers could use them.

Here’s an excerpt from the article that summarizes Apple’s supply chain success:

“Apple has built a closed ecosystem where it exerts control over nearly every piece of the supply chain, from design to retail store. Because of its volume—and its occasional ruthlessness—Apple gets big discounts on parts, manufacturing capacity, and air freight. “Operations expertise is as big an asset for Apple as product innovation or marketing,” says Mike Fawkes, the former supply-chain chief at Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and now a venture capitalist with VantagePoint Capital Partners. “They’ve taken operational excellence to a level never seen before.”

That’s why Apple rakes in over half of the entire mobile market’s profits. That’s why so many people think it’s possible that Apple could enter the typically-low profit margin TV market and change the game. And that’s why Apple is currently the number two company in the world by market cap. Operations.

iOS 5.0.1 Patches iPad 2 Smart Cover Security Flaw

A few weeks ago we told you about a security bug involving iOS 5 and Smart Covers. The folks over at 9to5Mac discovered that if you left your iPad 2 on the Power Screen, anyone with a Smart Cover could gain access to your tablet.

As serious as the issue was, we figured that a fix would come from Apple within a few days. But more than a week passed by without word. Then, yesterday, the Cupertino company released iOS 5.0.1 beta, and it contains a patch for the Smart Cover bug…
9to5Mac reported last night that the latest version of iOS resolves the Smart Cover security issue. The new software apparently won’t let you use a Smart Cover to lock the iPad 2 while the device is on its Power screen.

Apple seeded iOS 5.0.1 to developers yesterday afternoon with a number of fixes. The update should be available to the public within the next few weeks. We’ll keep you updated.

How to Jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 With RedSn0w

If you’re a developer and you’ve taken the plunge to update to iOS 5.0.1 beta, we confirmed earlier that you can jailbreak the bleeding edge firmware.

Now we’ll show you how to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 on video using RedSn0w. You will need your iOS 5.0 firmware, since RedSn0w has not been updated to recognize 5.0.1 yet.

Other than that small little detail, jailbreaking iOS 5.0.1 with RedSn0w is a cinch
to the iOS 5.0 firmware. It should identify the 5.0 firmware without error.

Step 3: Go back to the main screen of RedSn0w and place your device into DFU mode. Click Jailbreak, and then select Install Cydia.

Step 4: Your device should jailbreak, but your Cydia icon will be white due to it being a tethered jailbreak. Place your device back into DFU mode.

Step 5: Again, from RedSn0w’s main page, select Extras > Specify Firmware > and point it to the iOS 5.0 firmware. It should identify the 5.0 firmware without error.

Step 6: Select “Just Boot” from RedSn0w’s Extras menu, and it should perform a tethered boot on your device.

Congratulations, you just jailbroke iOS 5.0.1. For a more comprehensive RedSn0w guide, head over to our RedSn0w page.

Were you able to jailbreak successfully?

RedSn0w Can Jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 Beta

Earlier today Apple released iOS 5.0.1 beta to developers which supposedly fixes a few bugs, including the battery problem we reported about last week.

If you’re a jailbreaker who just couldn’t resist updating to the new beta firmware, we have some good news for you. According to Dev Team frontman MuscleNerd, the latest version of RedSn0w can jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 beta…
All you need to do is to use RedSn0w 0.9.9 beta 7 and point it to the iOS 5 IPSW, not iOS 5.0.1 beta. We assume the Dev Team will update RedSn0w as soon as or before iOS 5.0.1 comes out of beta and is released to the public.

As usual, this is a tethered jailbreak—with a semitether also available —and it will not work on the iPhone 4S or the iPad 2.

You can download RedSn0w from here, and follow our RedSn0w guide for details. Jeff will probably come up with a video as well, so stay tuned.

How to Enable iTunes Match on Apple TV 2

So by now you’ve probably heard the news: Apple has released iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2, and along with it comes iTunes Match Support for Apple TV 2.

But how do you go about enabling iTunes match on the Apple TV? It’s actually much easier than one would expect.

Check out our video demonstration of iTunes Match on Apple TV inside
How to Enable iTunes Match on the Apple TV 2
Step 1: Download and install iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2 (You must be a developer)

Step 2: Enable iTunes match by going to Store > Turn On iTunes Match in iTunes

Step 3: Wait for iTunes Match to finish processing your music. (At least wait until it begins uploading the music and artwork it can’t match.)

Step 4: On your Apple TV go to Settings > General > iTunes Store and enable iTunes Match

Step 5: You will see a new “Music” section in your list. iCloud music will configure itself, and then you should be able to start playing your music.

Have you tried out iTunes Match on your Apple TV 2? If so, let us know what you think about it.

A Closer Look at How Much Data Siri Uses

Siri requires an internet connection to connect with Apple’s servers, and Ars Technica has taken a closer look at exactly how much data Siri consumes on the iPhone 4S.

While Siri’s data footprint isn’t that significant, it’s still interesting to see what the technology will cost you on your monthly bill. Siri requires a constant internet connection to work, so keep that in mind if you’re on limited data plan…
Ars Technica performed 6 local queries, such as setting reminders or looking up contact info, followed by 5 tasks that required Siri to access information online through services like Wolfram Alpha and Google. While all of the tasks remained under 1MB, the tasks ranged in KB size based on the complexity of the voice interpretation that Siri had to digest. Obviously, local tasks that didn’t use an online search required much less data consumption.

Dications in apps like Mail and Messages also returned very minimal data footprints.

What Ars Technica discovered after putting Siri through its paces:

“Here’s where the numbers are going to get rough. As we’ve already pointed out, your own numbers will be different depending on how wordy you are, what kinds of queries you’re making, and how frequently you do it. So please take these estimates with a grain of salt—they’re more like general ranges than exact numbers.

If you use Siri 2-3 times per day at an average of 63KB per instance, you might expect to use 126KB to 189KB per day, or 3.7 to 5.5MB per month. For 4-6 times a day, that might come out to 252KB to 378KB per day, or 7.4 to 11MB per month. If you use it 10-15 times per day, you might end up using 630KB to 945KB per day, or 18.5 to 27.7MB per month.”

For most people, this amount of data usage is not anything to sweat over. If you have a 200MB plan for your iPhone 4S, you may want to be careful about using Siri, but otherwise you’ll be fine.

What do you think about Siri’s data footprint? Did you expect it to be higher or lower?

Apple’s New In-Store Self Checkout Plan Revealed

A few days ago, MacRumors reported that Apple was going to be unveiling a new version of its iOS retail app in the very near future. The update is expected to bring multiple new features, including an in-store self-checkout option for accessories.

As crazy as the idea sounds, it’s starting to seem more and more legitimate. Now BGR is claiming that it can confirm that an Apple Store app update is indeed on the way. And it has even obtained details of how the new services will work…
Jonathan Geller of BGR is reporting that he’s learned of Apple’s new retail plans from a “trusted source.” The initiative will start rolling out to Apple’s retail stores world-wide on Thursday, and will include some significant changes.

For starters, users who order Apple products (via online, the retail app, or over the phone) will now be able to pick them up at their local Apple Store. Geller claims that once an order is placed, the items will be available for pickup within 12 minutes.

Perhaps more interesting is that it sounds like Apple is really going to go ahead with an employee-free self-checkout service. Geller explains what his source told him about the process:

“Here is how this will work: after you find the item you want to buy, like an accessory, you launch the Apple Store app on your iOS device and there will be an option to buy a product in the store. You scan the product with the camera on your device in the app, click purchase, and it will charge whatever credit card is associated to your Apple ID. You then just walk out of the store. Yes, we have been told that Apple will not be checking purchases…”

Once again, products like iPads won’t be eligible for self-checkout, but accessories and other small purchases will be fair game. It’ll be interesting to see how these new services pan out for Apple. They have the potential to really streamline the purchase process.

Hackers Develop Method to Add Custom Siri Commands

Siri hasn’t even been around a month yet, and she’s already the talk of the town. At first everyone was obsessed with asking her quirky questions, and now folks seem to have turned their attention to the status of her iPhone 4 port.

But it doesn’t look like Siri’s 15 minutes of fame are up just yet. It seems that hackers have figured out a way to create custom voice commands for the personal assistant, and they’ve even managed to get Siri to respond to them…
Jailbreak developer Chpwn announced last night that he has been involved in another breakthrough regarding Apple’s voice command system. With his help, Aman Gupta (a GitHub hacker) has figured out how to add new Siri commands.

Gupta showed off the hack by posting photos on his Twitter account of Siri recognizing and responding to his custom commands. Here’s one of the pics showing Siri responding to a command that clearly wasn’t programmed by Apple.

How Apple Has Changed Under its New CEO Tim Cook

When Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple’s CEO this past August, investors panicked. How could the Cupertino company continue its run of greatness without the man that started it all? Two words — Tim Cook.

The Wall Street Journal published an interesting article yesterday that looks at Cook’s impact at Apple during his first two months as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. And it sounds like he’s off to a good start…
Although Cook promised that Apple wouldn’t change under his tenure, the WSJ suggests that the company won’t exactly be the same either. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

“In recent weeks, Mr. Cook has tended to administrative matters that never interested Mr. Jobs, such as promotions and corporate reporting structures, according to people familiar with the matter. The new chief executive, 50 years old, has also been more communicative with employees than his predecessor, sending a variety of company-wide emails while addressing Apple employees as “Team,” people close to the company said.

Mr. Cook has also displayed some different corporate philosophies from Mr. Jobs. The new CEO recently announced a charitable matching program promising Apple would match employee donations to non-profits of up to $10,000 a year, starting in the US. In contrast, Mr. Jobs said at a company off-site last year that he was opposed to giving money away, according to a person who attended.”

Cook may not be the visionary that Jobs was, but he is more than capable of running Apple. Not only has he been with the company for 15 years, he is also the reason behind its low supply costs and high profit margins.

And as for future Apple products, well Cook has an all-star team of visionaries to help him out. From Johnny Ive to Scott Forstall, almost every person responsible for Apple’s success is still right by Tim’s side. Yeah, I’d say Apple is in good hands.

Was Google’s Gamble on Android Really Worth It?

When the original iPhone launched in 2007, Google and Apple actually had a good relationship. Google was set to be the iPhone’s default search engine, and Google was also going to power the handset’s Maps application. Everything was wonderful. And then came Android.

The Android operating system was born in Palo Alto, California in 2003. Two years later, the company was acquired by—you guessed it—Google. The deal was worth an estimated $50 million, but the Android OS could end up costing Google much more than that…
Why it Began
To understand whether or not Android has been or will be a successful venture for Google, you have to understand why it all began. Google’s sole purpose for entering the mobile OS market was for advertising. Anyone who says anything different obviously doesn’t understand the company’s business model. Andy Rubin himself said that Android was designed for “smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner’s location and preferences.”

After acquiring Android, Google distributed the mobile operating system to handset manufacturers with the promise of a low-cost, free to license, upgradeable OS that would give companies a fighting chance against the popular iPhone. But more importantly, the operating system removed another barrier between users and Google’s search engine. Have you ever tried doing a search on an Android phone? It takes you straight to Google.com (not Yahoo, not Bing) and its hoards of advertisements. Now how does Google make its money again? Oh yeah, advertising.


Best Buy Extremely Low on iPhone 4S Stock Due to High Consumer Demand

Judging by the huge number of people queueing for the iPhone 4S release a couple of weeks ago, it is fairly safe to say that demand for the iPhone that analysts called a “disappointment” is still strong.

Now, one analyst is pointing to dwindling Best Buy stocks as a sign that stock shortages are creeping up on all iPhone vendors, and that demand is outpacing Apple’s supply chain.

W. Baird analyst William Power told clients that during research, his company checked with a number of Best Buy stores, and many locations are running out of stock…
Baird also goes on to note that stores in less-populated areas were most likely to still have the new iPhone in their inventories, though usually only in the highest capacity. Smaller stores will also have received a lower allocation than larger ones.

“We would note that Best Buy stores have typically been one of the last outlets, behind carrier stores and Apple stores, to have its supply of iPhone devices normalize. This makes the retailer into a proverbial litmus test for iPhone 4S supply, with the current diagnosis being that the demand is outpacing supply.”

The fact that the big retail outlets are running out of iPhone 4S stock is possibly telling, with Apple Stores and carriers also struggling to meet demand for the handset.

Currently, Apple’s online store is quoting two weeks for delivery, while AT&T is quoting 21-28 days. Verizon customers will have to wait 11-18 days to get their hands on an iPhone 4S.

Again, all of this comes after the industry was apparently disappointed with the iPhone 4S, with many expecting a completely new design to be released. The iPhone 4S continues to use the same chassis as its predecessor, but with re-worked hardware on the inside.

Some had thought that buyers would stay away and instead wait for the iPhone 5 to arrive next year. Current sales figures for the iPhone 4S show that, as usual, it’s nearly impossible to predict how well a new Apple product will sell!

Google Reportedly Finishing Up Native Gmail App for iOS

If you’re an iPhone owner and also happen to be a Gmail user, you may want to pay attention. Word on the street is that Google is putting the finishing touches on a native Gmail application for the iOS platform.

MG Siegler, an Apple columnist for TechCrunch, made the announcement last night. The tech writer has learned that Google is nearly finished with an iOS-flavored native Gmail app, and it’s headed for the App Store…
“Google is on the verge of launching their native Gmail app, multiple sources tell me. In fact, I believe it has already been submitted to Apple for review. If it gets approved, it should be out soon. And I think it’s going to be approved. This is great news for a couple of reasons. First: native Gmail app! Awesome. Second: those who have seen the app tell me it’s pretty fantastic.”

Of course, you can already access Gmail in iOS via Safari. You can also setup a Gmail account through the Mail application. You can even get your emails pushed to you via this neat Exchange hack. So why would you need a native Gmail app?

From the sounds of it, the app will be for folks who utilize Gmail’s additional features, such as one-click email flagging and Priority Inbox. Of course, all of this is pending the application’s approval. We’ll keep you updated on the app’s status.

Would you use a native Gmail app?

Hulu Plus App For Apple TV is Ready To Go

It would seem that there is quite the political battle going on inside Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, and the subject matter may not be what you’d expect.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple is currently mulling over the decision to allow Hulu Plus onto its Apple TV platform. That’s right, Hulu Plus.

The story suggests that there is currently a completed build of Hulu Plus running on internal Apple TVs, and that the app is ready for primetime. In fact, it has been ready for a month. Apple hasn’t yet decided whether to allow it onto the Apple TV alongside the existing Netflix app…
The reason for Apple’s reluctance is quite simple. With Hulu Plus offering more recent content than the already-installed Netflix, Apple is concerned that giving users access to Hulu Plus will see iTunes sales of TV shows and movies cannibalised.

Hulu’s iPad app is available on the iOS App Store. AirPlay is not enabled in the Hulu Plus iOS app, and using the HDMI cable to connect the app to a television results in an SD image displayed on-screen. Native Hulu Plus offers HD resolutions, and as does iTunes. Has Apple crippled the iOS app in order to save its iTunes sales?

Talk of Apple allowing apps onto its Apple TV has been rife since the A4-equipped version went on sale, but so far Apple hasn’t opened its little ‘hobby’ up to third parties.

With Google giving its own Google TV solution a shot in the arm recently, now might be a good time for Apple to follow suit.

Apple Stores Looking to Enable Self-Checkouts Via iOS App

Apple Stores are already considered trendsetters in the retail space. From their awe-inspiring architecture to their product-focused environments, the Cupertino company’s world-wide chain has other retailers turning green with envy.

Now it seems like the Mac-makers are looking to start another fad: self-checkout. No, we’re not talking about those big machines at your local Walmart. We’re talking about customers paying for items using their iPhones without the help of a sales clerk…
MacRumors is reporting that Apple is planning on releasing an update to its Apple Store application that will allow users to purchase accessories in-store without needing to flag down an Apple employee. Here’s how it will work:

“According to our source, self-checkout purchases will be charged via the Apple Store app to the customer’s iTunes Store account. It is not entirely clear what will happen once a user has checked out via the app, although store employees will of course be on the lookout for store visitors walking out with merchandise in hand, as they are already. Customers who have made a purchase through self-checkout will be able to show an emailed receipt to any employee, confirming their purchase.”

Obviously, Apple’s higher-end products won’t be eligible for the service due to being tucked away in the stock room, but accessories and other small purchases will be fair game.

Even current NFC-enabled checkouts generally require the presence of a store employee, so it’ll be interesting to see what Apple’s experience will be like. And with a predicted start date of November 3rd, we may not have to wait long to find out.

Theft concerns aside, Apple’s self-checkout project could be a big hit if it’s successful. The Cupertino company could potentially open the service up to other retailers or even convenience stores, allowing customers to make purchases through their iTunes accounts.

What’s your take on Apple’s self-checkout project?

Samsung Working on Flexible Screens for Phones and Tablets

If anyone doubted whether Samsung really meant business in its pursuit of total smartphone marketshare ownership, this one little tidbit to come of the company’s earnings call might just help to put the record straight.

During a call to discuss Samsung’s most recent financial results, the company’s spokesman, Robert Yi, said that Samsung was working on a flexible display for its upcoming smartphones and tablets.

Surely all this is pie-in-the-sky stuff for Samsung, right? Wrong. Samsung hopes to introduce flexible displays to its smartphone lineup in as early as 2012…
Yep. You read that right.

“The flexible display, we are looking to introduce sometime in 2012, hopefully the earlier part,” said spokesman Robert Yi during an earnings call. “The application probably will start from the handset side.”

Yi said tablets and other mobile devices with flexible displays would follow.”

Samsung has already shown flexible screen technology in the past, with the OLED display held inside rigid cases that kept them curved.

With Samsung pushing the envelope so far and so fast, what does Apple have to do to keep up? If, come new iPhone time in 2012, Samsung is shipping Galaxy handsets with one of their new flexible screens attached, what will Apple have to offer by way of competition?

Apple is widely expected to bring the iPhone 5 to market next year after releasing an incremental update this time around with the iPhone 4S. Whatever changes the company has up its sleeve for next year may have to be very impressive, especially if Samsung continues to innovate as quickly as it is right now.

Of course, Samsung saying it “hopes” to do something, and then actually doing it, are two very different things.

Apple Purchases Another 3D Mapping Company

Aside from small additions like displaying alternate routes and the Show Traffic option, the Maps application received little attention from Apple during the recent iOS update. Some pundits expected the app to at least receive turn-by-turn directions.

But a revamped Maps app might still be in Apple’s plans. 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple has just quietly acquired “mind-blowing 3D mapping company” C3 Technologies, and that the Cupertino company is looking to take iOS maps to the next level…
The news comes shortly after the company’s website went down in July of this year, spawning tons of speculation. An announcement was made that C3 had indeed been bought-out by a Western-world company, but nothing more was ever revealed.

You might recall that Apple has made similar purchases in the past. Last year the company acquired Poly9, another 3D mapping startup team. And the year before it scooped up Placebase, a firm known for its mapping software.

Just as Apple did with Siri, you can bet that we’ll see the work of these companies eventually make their way into iOS — which is exciting considering some of their talents. Here’s a video of C3 Technologies rendering New York City.