A 20-year-old Brazilian woman was found dead with 26 iPhones glued to her body while traveling alone on a bus in Paraná, Brazil. She showed symptoms of convulsions and died of cardiac arrest, with police suspecting illegal trafficking related to the seized phones. The investigation is ongoing.
Law enforcement officials are reporting that iPhones stored for forensic examination are mysteriously rebooting, making them harder to unlock. A document from Detroit suggests this may be due to a new iOS 18 security feature that causes iPhones to reboot when disconnected from a cellular network for a period. This reboot increases the phone's security against password-cracking tools. Apple has not confirmed if such a feature exists.
Detroit police are facing challenges as iPhones in their custody are unexpectedly rebooting, complicating evidence extraction. The reboots, suspected to be linked to iOS 18, revert devices to a more secure state, making data access difficult. Despite being in airplane mode or Faraday boxes, the phones may be communicating and triggering reboots. This phenomenon is hindering forensic investigations, prompting warnings to isolate devices from iOS 18 influences. Apple has not commented on the issue.
Researchers found that the introduction of iPhones for NYPD officers led to an 18% increase in reported stops, primarily involving non-white citizens, suggesting that previous data may have underreported such interactions. This highlights potential racial biases in policing and the need for more transparency and further investigation into police practices.
Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to potentially incorporate Google's "Gemini" generative AI engine into its iPhones, following previous discussions with OpenAI for a similar partnership. This potential collaboration could significantly impact the AI and tech space, providing Google with access to Apple's vast user base while raising questions about Apple's AI advancements. Analysts view this as a strategic move for both companies, with potential benefits for Apple's AI strategy and traffic acquisition, leading to positive stock movements for both Apple and Alphabet.
Three individuals, including a 22-year-old Berkeley man, have been arrested on burglary charges after multiple thefts at the Apple store in Emeryville, California. The thefts, including one captured in a viral video, involved the snatching of numerous iPhones despite a police car being present. The arrested man, Tyler Mims, faces multiple charges and is being held on bail. The police are seeking information from the public regarding the thefts.
Three individuals were arrested after stealing approximately 75 iPhones from the Berkeley Apple Store, with police suspecting them of being involved in several organized retail theft crimes. The store has been repeatedly targeted by thieves this year, with previous incidents involving multiple thefts of Apple devices.
Apple is intensifying its efforts to integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI) into iPhones, aiming to enhance the device's capabilities in generating and processing content. This move reflects the company's focus on leveraging AI to improve user experiences and expand the functionality of its products.
Black Friday 2023 brings a range of enticing phone deals, including discounts on popular brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, Motorola, and OnePlus. Shoppers can find significant markdowns on iPhones, with Apple offering a $75 gift card with the purchase of select models. Google is also offering discounts on its latest Pixel phones, including the Pixel Fold. Samsung has deals on its S23 series phones, while Motorola and OnePlus are offering discounts on their flagship and budget models. It's a great time to upgrade or stock up on phone accessories as well.
Apple has announced that it will support rich communication services (RCS) for iPhones, allowing for easier messaging with Android devices. The update, set to be released next year, will work alongside Apple's iMessage system. This move comes after years of resistance from Apple, but the company now acknowledges that RCS offers a better interoperability experience compared to SMS or MMS. Google has welcomed Apple's participation in the development of RCS, and Apple's announcement also coincides with a deadline to file arguments in the European Union regarding iMessage's classification as a "core" service. The addition of RCS will enable iPhone users to send high-resolution images and videos, have more reliable group messaging, and utilize features such as read receipts and location sharing within text threads.
Apple plans to adopt the messaging standard RCS next year, allowing for smoother texting between iPhones and Android devices. The technology will work alongside iMessage and offer better interoperability than SMS or MMS, allowing users to send high-quality photos and videos, chat over WiFi or cellular data, and know when messages are read. The adoption of RCS will not change the appearance of the infamous green bubble for iPhone users.
Apple has announced that it will allow customers nationwide to fix their damaged or broken iPhones and iPads themselves or take them to independent repair shops, marking a significant shift in the company's stance on right-to-repair rights. The move comes as President Biden pushes for consumer protection and follows the passage of a new California law requiring device manufacturers to provide manuals, parts, and tools for repairs. Apple has been criticized for making its devices expensive to fix, but in recent years, it has made efforts to make repairs easier and spare parts more accessible. The company supports a national right-to-repair law that ensures privacy, security, and transparency about repair parts.
iPhones are not expected to adopt resin coated copper (RCC) foil for their circuit boards until 2025, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The delay is due to concerns over the material's fragility and inability to pass drop tests. If improvements are made by Apple's supplier Ajinomoto, the high-end iPhone 17 models could potentially use RCC in 2024. RCC has the potential to slim down circuit boards, creating more space for larger batteries or other technology, and simplifies the manufacturing process.
Russian company Operation Zero, which acquires and sells zero-day exploits, is now offering researchers $20 million for hacking tools that can be used to hack iPhones and Android devices. The company, which sells exclusively to non-NATO countries, has increased its payments for zero-days in these platforms from $200,000 to $20 million. The CEO of Operation Zero stated that the high prices are due to the rarity and demand for full chain exploits for mobile phones, which are primarily used by government actors. The market for zero-days is largely unregulated and prices fluctuate, with other companies like Zerodium and Crowdfense also offering significant bounties for similar exploits.
This week, investors will be closely watching key inflation data, the release of new iPhones by Apple, and the looming deadline for labor negotiations in the auto industry. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August will be released on Wednesday, with expectations of a rise in headline inflation driven by increasing oil prices. Apple's fall event on Tuesday is expected to unveil new iPhones, Apple Watches, and a new charging port. The United Auto Workers and automakers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis face a September 14 deadline for contract negotiations, with the possibility of a strike. Last week, concerns over inflation and China's economy led to choppy trading in the markets.