Tag Archives: apple

Who’s really behind the iMessage encryption hype?

There have been many reports about how government authorities have been stymied by the level of encryption used by Apple’s iMessage service. cNet recently reported that even with a search warrant, “it is impossible to intercept iMessages between two Apple devices“. Their report was based on an internal DEA ‘Intelligence Note’ that was “obtained by cnet’. Really. cnet ‘obtained’ an internal DEA document.

While discussing various conspiracy theories, a friend and I wondered if Apple was what really led cnet and others to discover the DEA document, and used the ‘leak’ to sell even more iPhones and iPads… albeit to a criminal audience.

Or perhaps it really is the feds, but they actually find iMessage easy to work with, and just want more bad guys using technology that makes it easier to catch criminals with. Nope. not likely.

Must have been Apple.

Why Windows8 and PC sales are down

Why aren’t more people buying Windows 8? Here’s my opinion: folks who are still using Win7 or even Vista, don’t have a computer that meets Win8 requirements, and aren’t willing to buy a new PC just to use Win8. They are also afraid that their printers and other peripherals won’t work well with Win8, so upgrading seems like a costly and frustrating ordeal.

So, why aren’t more people just buying a new PC? Because there aren’t enough compelling new features AND it means having to end up with Windows8, and too many people just really hate Win8.

Of course, the other reason is that Apple iDevices are outselling ALL forms of windows computers, and once a windows user is assimilated, the halo effect kicks in and more people are willing to convert to Mac OS X rather than upgrade an old PC to Win8, or buy a new PC with Win8.

WWDC could be improved, but does Apple care?

Once a year, Apple holds its World Wide Developer’s Conference at the mother ship in Cupertino to expose Mac and iOS developers to as many Apple engineers as possible, so as to ensure steady app growth. This year’s even sold out its 5,000 available seats in less than three minutes time, frustrating tens of thousands of developers who would gladly pay $1599 for a ticket.

With nearly 300,000 combined registered developers, many have wondered why Apple doesn’t change the way WWDC is done, and bring exposure and knowledge-sharing to more developers. Some think WWDC should be killed off.

My guess is that Apple doesn’t see WWDC as broken, since their platforms show the most app growth compared to whatever else you want to consider as competition. Thankfully, Apple is committing to publish event videos during WWDC, instead of months after. This should help to quickly educate more developers with the latest trends in app development… but really seems to just be a token effort to quiet the hordes who miss the chance to be there live.

Sadly, until such a time that iOS app development is perceived as the weaker platform, its doubtful that Apple would commit any more time and effort than they currently put into their WWDC.