Apple sales down Stock drops

This week Apple reported their quarterly earnings. They posted quarterly revenue of $50.6 billion and quarterly net income of $10.5 billion, or $1.90 per diluted share.

These results compare to last year’s numbers of revenue of $58 billion and net income of $13.6 billion, or $2.33 per diluted share.

Many point to the loss of income from the drop in iPhone sales. Sales were down for the first time. They were 51.2 million, down 16%.

Apple stock dropped over 8.3% after the announcement.

http://techcrunch.com/gallery/everything-you-need-to-know-about-apples-second-quarter-results/

Apple Transparency Report

This week Apple released a Transparency Report on requests from law enforcement. National Security Requests jumped from the 750-999 category to the up to the 1250 - 1,499 category. China requested the most number of accounts at 6,724, 53% of which were disclosed. The US was second with requests for 5,192 accounts 82% of which were disclosed. The most requests for help with devices came from Germany at 11,989, 52% where some data was disclosed.

The report is one of the few ways Apple is allowed to report on government requests for customer data.

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2016/04/19/apple-transparency-report-reveals-four-fold-increase-secret-us-government-orders/

The FBI says they don’t need Apple

This week the FBI put the final nail in their court case with Apple over the San Bernardino phone. They asked the judge presiding on the case to vacate the order that tried to compel Apple to help them break into the phone. The FBI acknowledged that they were able to access the phone with the help of a 3rd party security company after all.

The fight over security and national security is not over though. PC World reports the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has identified 64 cases where the US Department of Justice has requested cooperation from Apple or Google under the All Writs Order to unlock mobile devices. 7 of the 9 cases involving Google asked for a password reset. 30 of the cases are from 2015 or later. This is in addition to 12 cases identified by Apple’s lawyer Marc Zwillinger in February.

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6255515/apple-order2.0.pdf

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3049714/us-has-asked-apple-google-to-help-unlock-devices-in-more-than-70-cases.html#tk.rss_news

Apple Vs FBI canceled due to Hacker

Remember that court case where the FBI was trying to force Apple to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter? Well, that’s on hold for now. This Monday, the FBI filed a motion to vacate Tuesday’s hearing and issue a stay for Apple to assist the FBI. On Sunday a third party demonstrated to the FBI a method for unlocking the phone without Apple’s assistance. US Magistrate Sheri Pym canceled Tuesday’s hearing and issued a stay. The FBI asked for two weeks to test the new method. The FBI must give the judge a status report by April 5.

There are rumors that Israeli security firm, Cellebrite who specializes in recovering data from cellphones, is the company helping the FBI.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/03/apple-gets-short-term-win-but-new-mysterious-fbi-unlocking-method-looms/

http://www.cnet.com/news/fbis-iphone-hack-help-may-come-from-israeli-security-firm/

Apple Announcements

The Verge put together a list of the most exciting Apple announcements this week. Including:

The 4-inch iPhone SE- A smaller version of the iPhone 6S. It has A9 processor and 12-megapixel rear camera for the $399 16GB model, which is alarmingly little space for a modern phone, but $499 for the more spacious 64GB one. The company will start taking pre-orders this Thursday, and the device will be available March 31st.

The 9.7-inch iPad Pro- The latest iPad has shrunk from 12.9-inch to a smaller 9.7-inch version. The specs for the machine are about the same though it does weigh under one pound now. The new iPad comes in silver, gold, space grey, and rose gold. Pricing starts at $599 for the 32GB version, but is also offered at $749 for 128GB and a 256GB model for $899

Apple Watch price cut – The $349 Apple Watch will now start at $299. Along with it, Apple announced a new lineup of watch bands with new colors.

Apple Vs the FBI part Duex

This week the Verge reports that a filing by Apple in response to a Eastern District of New York court request shows 13 Apple devices are subjects of court orders by the FBI in five different court districts, using the All Writs Act as justification. Additionally, the Manhattan District Attorney said his district alone had possession of 175 different devices that it was unable to decrypt.  

·       This week Apple filed a motion to vacate the court order requiring it to assist the FBI in cracking the passcode of an iPhone 5C. Apple said in a conference call that the FBI wanted a government OS and that Apple would have to build an “FBI forensics lab” at its headquarters. Apples filing denies that that the All Writs act provides a basis to “conscript apple to create software enabling the government to hack into phones.” It also argues the order would violate the first amendment and the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause to be free of arbitrary deprivation of its liberty.

·        Apple has received support from Verizon, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, and Google. All who plan to file an amicus brief in support of Apple in the San Bernardino case.