DaniWeb IT Discussion Community - Mac Rumors and Reports http://www.daniweb.com/forums/ Our Mac Rumors and Reports forum is the place for mac fans hypothesize, predict and discuss the latest Apple news, hype, and rumors. en-US Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:34:22 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.daniweb.com/alphaimages/misc/rss.jpg DaniWeb IT Discussion Community - Mac Rumors and Reports http://www.daniweb.com/forums/ News Story Warning: iPhone exploit in the wild and stealing user data http://www.daniweb.com/news/story238029.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:37:46 GMT Over the weekend news broke that a worm had started infecting Jailbroken iPhones in Australia. Nobody really took the exploit too seriously as all the 'ikee worm' did was change the phone wallpaper to a picture of 80's pop singer Rick Astley in a kind of warped tribute to the RickRolling Internet meme of last year.

However, I warned at the time that "as code variants continue to appear it is only a matter of time, and probably not that much of it, before a malicious party uses it to deliver a payload that is a whole lot more troublesome than Rick Astley" and my gloomy prediction has now borne fruit.

One researcher, Peter James of Mac security specialists Intego, has revealed that a new exploit is taking advantage of the same vulnerability that the ikee worm did, the often unchanged default SSH password of Jailbroken iPhones. iPhone/Privacy.A, as Intego have creatively named it, will allow hackers to "silently copy a treasure trove of user data from a compromised iPhone: e-mail, contacts, SMSs, calendars, photos, music files, videos, as well as any data recorded by any iPhone app".

The hacker would first need to install the tool onto a computer which would then scan for any Jailbroken iPhones connected to the networks it discovers, and assuming that the root password has not been changed it can then quietly go about its business. Although there is a chance of the thing being installed on a computer in shop, for example, and scanning for devices within range as people mill about, the actual overall risk is pretty low.

For a start it requires a Jailbroken device, either iPhone or iTouch, and it is estimated that something less than 10% have actually been modified in this way. Although this does mean a couple of million or so devices at risk, you also have to bear in mind that many of those who have gone through the Jailbreak process will be of a technical mindset. Exactly the people who read the newsfeeds, who frequent forums such as DaniWeb, who will be all to aware of ikee and the need to change the default SSH root password. All of the time the number of devices that are at risk is being reduced.

So perhaps the 75% of people who took part in a Sophos poll which asked if the ikee worm author had done iPhone users a favour by alerting them to a significant problem in a harmless way and agreed that he had were right after all. Better to get a grinning pop star on your iPhone as a wake up call to a vulnerability than have your data stolen right off the bat. That said, the ikee worm also alerted the bad guys to the vulnerability and it has not taken them long to get right out there and exploit it.

Personally I would have preferred it if the ikee chap had approached Apple with the discovery and let them get it patched before going public. That kind of disclosure is the responsible way to do it and, assuming that Apple acted quickly enough, the problem could have been corrected without any data stealing tools or faded singers being involved. Of course, Apple might say that if you breach the terms and conditions of usage of your hardware device by modifying it in this way then you deserve everything you get.

Certainly, as far as the Apple campaign against Jailbreaking goes this kind of bad publicity is actually pretty good for the company. It can, quite rightly, proclaim that legitimate users have nothing to fear and warn that the security risk is just one more reason that they should not be tempted down the Jailbreak road.

That said, some researchers are also warning that non-Jailbroken iPhones could be compromised if the bad guys look away from this particular access route and start exploiting other avenues such as the SMS hacking trick revealed at Black Hat earlier in the year. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread238029.html News Story DVD Jon bites Apple on ass again http://www.daniweb.com/news/story229561.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:53:24 GMT Jon Lech Johansen is perhaps best known as DVD Jon, the chap who cracked DVD movie encryption at the tender age of just 15. He may soon have to adopt a new nickname, how about iTunes Jon, as he releases software that takes iTunes out of the iPod music equation. doubleTwist... Jon Lech Johansen is perhaps best known as DVD Jon, the chap who cracked DVD movie encryption at the tender age of just 15. He may soon have to adopt a new nickname, how about iTunes Jon, as he releases software that takes iTunes out of the iPod music equation.

doubleTwist exists on the foundation that in the same way you don't have a different web browser for every web site that you visit, you shouldn't have to have different software when you use an iPod, a Nokia smartphone, a Sony device and so on. "The typical household today has many such devices" the company website says "there is a need for a simple and powerful software that connects them." Which is where the newly released software comes in, and iTunes goes out the door.

doubleTwist co-founder Monique Farantzos has even gone as far as to describe Apple as the new Microsoft, referring to a dark side that has emerged with apps being blocked from the App Store for example, and the Palm pre not being allowed to sync with iTunes. And so we now have a piece of software that has all the functionality of iTunes, but does not restrict the user to just an iPod or even just to iTunes for that matter. doubleTwist will, so I am informed, allow iPod users to buy their music from the Amazon MP3 store if they prefer. That said, it's the ability to play an iTunes library of music on any device that really appeals to me.

Apple must be getting very fed up indeed with DVD Jon, especially after an advert was placed alongside the San Francisco Apple Store back in June to encourage people to turn their backs on iTunes and the iPhone. Not forgetting the 1984 video parody made by Johansen casting Steve Jobs as Big Brother, for good measure. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229561.html News Story Can Sky beat Apple at the iTunes game? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story229555.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:14:37 GMT Sky, better known for news and sport television broadcasting, has today announced that it is entering the online music business with an ad-free streaming download service. All of the four million songs accessible by users of the service will be available by way of unlimited online streaming as well... Sky, better known for news and sport television broadcasting, has today announced that it is entering the online music business with an ad-free streaming download service. All of the four million songs accessible by users of the service will be available by way of unlimited online streaming as well as in MP3 format for storage and playback on any compatible device.

Launching on the 19th October, Sky Songs in the UK will start off by providing access to new release and back catalogue songs from EMI. Sony, Universal and Warner along with a host of independent labels for good measure.

Mike Darcey, Sky’s Chief Operating Officer, says "Our music partners bring an outstanding catalogue and unrivalled expertise that complements Sky’s strengths in content distribution. Sky Songs will reach out to consumers who want legitimate digital services offering choice, ease of use and great value. Offering legal access to digital music is a vital step in combating illegal downloading."

That's as maybe, but the service is up against existing online music powerhouses such as Apple's iTunes and the streaming service Spotify in a market which was worth £106 million in the UK last year, that's an increase of 48% from the year before. Not that the CD market should be ruled out either, in terms of competition, at least not just yet. Sure, it is on the decline with income down 8% last year but it still managed to earn £856 million in the UK which is none too shabby and far outstripped online music sales in terms of income.

So how much is Sky Songs looking to charge users?

According to the press release:

Quote:
Sky Songs offers users unlimited streaming, plus download-to-own tracks and albums from £6.49 a month. Customers can also purchase additional music on a per-track or per-album basis from 65p and £6.49 respectively.

There are two subscription options available:

pay £6.49 and download either a £6.49 album or 10 songs, and receive unlimited access to listen to over four million songs online for one month; or

pay £7.99 and download either a £7.99 album or 15 songs, and receive unlimited access to listen to over four million songs online for one month.

So, unlike Spotify there is no free ad-supported model, which means it will struggle to steal share away from them - although the subscription is cheaper than a Premium Spotify, ad-free, account. iTunes may feel the heat a little more, especially as the downloadable MP3s are in a DRM-free format and the streaming model is certainly starting to appeal to the younger listener these days. Just look at how the iPhone App Store is beating iTunes and the presence of streaming music apps on the iPhone for example. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229555.html News Story Ultra-thin iMacs coming this week? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story227930.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:33:56 GMT If you are in the market for a new Apple computer, you might want to wait a few days. It would appear that new super thin iMacs, MacBooks and even a cheaper Mac Mini are on the way real soon. According to AppleInsider... If you are in the market for a new Apple computer, you might want to wait a few days. It would appear that new super thin iMacs, MacBooks and even a cheaper Mac Mini are on the way real soon.

According to AppleInsider a raft of advertisements were published ahead of time, in error, by the Netherlands Apple Store online.

The Google Adsense adverts were spotted on Google.nl but when eager shoppers clicked the links they arrived at the Apple Store only to discover the goods were not actually available. And what goods. The advertising would appear to confirm many online reports over the last few months that Apple is about to launch thinner polycarbonate MacBook, am ultra-thin series of iMacs and a speed increased but price decreased Mac Mini.

AppleInsider expects them to be "accompanied by redesigns of the company's Mighty Mouse and Apple Remote, as well as aluminum wireless keyboards."

The online grapevine is suggesting that the new product line could be announced before the end of this week. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227930.html News Story WorkSnug - a new overlay for iPhone http://www.daniweb.com/news/story225641.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:21:09 GMT Occasionally you see something exciting, which is why I'm very pleased to tell you about WorkSnug - a new iPhone app, also coming to Android, I was shown by the founder a day or so ago.

It's one of those things that addresses a need you didn't know you had before. You take your iPhone 3Gs (and it does need that GPS function), you open the application and - as long as you're in a city that's covered - you hold the camera lense up to the street. You see the street on the screen but the clever bit is that you have an overlay of directions to the nearest publicly-available WiFi access.

Touch the various names of the access places and it goes further - you get a write-up on the venue, whether it's actually an eaterie or somewhere more congenial for work, and what the noise level is like. The start-up has been sponsored by Plantronics, so as you might imagine if the noise level is going to be bad you get information on the headsets available for Skype and other audio-related stuff.

It's going to be free when it's approved on the Apple iTunes store, and there will be the opportunity to leave feedback on the various venues. London will be the first city covered with San Francisco coming soon. If I had the 3Gs I'd be signing up on day one. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225641.html <![CDATA[News Story Top 10 reasons why I don't care about The Beatles on iTunes]]> http://www.daniweb.com/news/story221694.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:09:05 GMT All the news and social media feeds seem to have overdosed on one story this week: will The Beatles be on iTunes after the big Apple 'Rock and Roll' event today? News at eleven: I don't give a stuff, and here's my top ten reasons why.
  1. Most people would rather have an iPod with a camera than an iPod with The Beatles.
  2. Reality check: the only people who are really getting their knickers in a knot over the possibility of Beatles music on iTunes, unfortunately, would be we the media.
  3. The Beatles are not, and I'm really sorry to have to break this to the fans out there, I repeat not the biggest/best/hottest band on the planet. The hard truth of the matter is that in 2009 The Beatles are simply not relevant, in music terms.
  4. If I wanted Beatles music on my iPod I would have copied tracks off the over priced Beatles box set CDs I had bought (I don't, and I have not bought a box set, but plenty do and have) rather than be stupid enough to pay twice for the same music.
  5. If the record companies really cared about music fans, also known as their customers, they would have made the Beatles back catalogue available in digital format a long time ago. They have not, ipso facto they don't give a stuff about us so why should we give a stuff about them. Even if there was an announcement at the Apple event today, it's too little and too late to make any difference.
  6. The news feeds have taken two plus two and come out with five. The Apple event was announced with a tagline of "It's only rock-n-roll but we like it" and everyone said oh they are talking about The Beatles. Totally failing to notice that it is actually a Rolling Stones reference.
  7. If you do want Beatles music but don't have the cash or inclination to line the greedy record company coffers, pop down to the local garage and pick a CD out of the bargain bin for a few pennies. There are plenty of them available, then just rip them onto your MP3 player. It's doubtful that the police will be breaking your door down any time soon as a result.
  8. It's not even as if Beatles music isn't already available online for download, it is by the barrow-load. OK, none of it is legal, but it does already exist and how.
  9. The sixties were a long time ago, get over it.
  10. Beatles Rock Band, the game, is a far more relevant and interesting way to get into the 'Fab Four' in the 21st century. You might as well have some fun while listening to the tedious pop melodies of yesteryear.
]]> Mac Rumors and Reports happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221694.html Snow Leopard http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215374.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:11:02 GMT Have you downloaded snow leopard yet? I was planning to stop by the Apple Store and get it today instead of ordering online but I was not looking forward to the long line. So what do you think of Snow Leopard? What sup with Apple naming system? I do like it but do you think they are running out of... Have you downloaded snow leopard yet? I was planning to stop by the Apple Store and get it today instead of ordering online but I was not looking forward to the long line. So what do you think of Snow Leopard? What sup with Apple naming system? I do like it but do you think they are running out of animals? ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports InsightsDigital http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215374.html News Story Music industry serves up lyrical piracy lawsuits http://www.daniweb.com/news/story220777.html Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:58:07 GMT Continuing on its charm offensive, the music industry is apparently not satisfied with the $675,000 fine for sharing 30 songs imposed on Joel Tenenbaum or the $1.92 million Jammie Thomas-Rasset was hit with for illegally downloading 24 tunes. Now it is going after the lyrics pirates. The what?... Continuing on its charm offensive, the music industry is apparently not satisfied with the $675,000 fine for sharing 30 songs imposed on Joel Tenenbaum or the $1.92 million Jammie Thomas-Rasset was hit with for illegally downloading 24 tunes. Now it is going after the lyrics pirates.

The what? Well, exactly. But apparently three music publishers have filed copyright infringement suites against a couple of sites which display song lyrics so you can sing along while the music plays. According to an article in Billboard the two businesses concerned, Liveuniverse Inc and Motive Force LLC, have been accused of "exploiting unlicensed lyrics for profit through the operation of four web sites."

The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) accuses the businesses and their owners of engaging in willful copyright infringement on a vast scale. A press release explaining the action says "These sites are profiting on the backs of songwriters. It is unfortunate that copyright holders must so frequently divert energies to protect their rights to license and distribute their works. However, the demand for music prompts a seemingly endless stream of illegal business models."

The NMPA argues that music fans are the losers when free lyrics are posted online, and made available with iPhone apps for example when music is playing, because licensed businesses cannot prosper in the face of unlicensed competition. But some fans have been making it clear by posting to various forums online that they think just the opposite, with applications and websites removing the ability to display lyrics in fear of being sued themselves.

I think they, the fans, have a point. I cannot actually recall ever being tempted into going out and buying some sheet music to get the lyrics of a song. However, I have been known to buy more music by an artist when I have access to the words of the music I have already bought. Remember, in this digital age the CD sleeve with the lyrics printed inside has died out, why should I not be able to get those lyrics in the most convenient format and for free?

Until I see the details of how much money the music publishers are losing because of lyrics piracy I think I will choose to believe it's just a sinking industry desperate to screw fans out of every last penny before it finally dies. Here's a thought, Mr Music Industry Man, why not change your business model to adapt to the modern world instead of hitting music fans with the biggest sticks you can find at every available opportunity? ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220777.html