Last week, Google’s Project Zero security research team detailed what it described as “one of the largest attacks against iPhone users ever.” Now, Apple has responded to Google’s findings – taking issue with many of the claims. Google’s findings last week detailed a series of hacked websites, which were randomly distributing malware to iPhone users. Once a user visited one of the malicious websites and the malware was deployed, the implant “primarily focused on stealing files and uploading live location data,” as often as every 60 seconds....

Earlier this week, Tim Cook communicated Apple’s plans for a hybrid working environment beginning in September. This plan, which would require that most Apple employees work in person three days a week, is now facing pushback internally from employees who feel the company is not being flexible enough for those who want to work remotely on a more regular basis. The Verge obtained an internal letter circulating within Apple in which employees write that they have felt “not just unheard, but at times actively ignored” over the last year when it comes to communication about in-person versus remote work....

After making this finding in August last year, the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) issued an order for Apple to update its app store policies so dating app providers could use payment systems other than Apple’s one. Last week, Apple made updates to its app store policies in response to the order, but the ACM has since found those changes to be unsatisfactory. According to the ACM, Apple has continued to prevent dating app providers from being able to freely use payment systems other than Apple’s own system....

Apple looks like it is tightening its grip on the “App” and “Mac” naming rights area. Last month, it forced App4mac to change its name. Sure Apple is now in the Mac Apps game but the company in question is six years old and named itself App4Mac two years before iOS turned Applications into apps. Patrice Calligaris, CEO writes to tell us: We complied only for the first case as other two cases are silly....

During its WWDC keynote today, Apple unveiled a new iCloud+ service with new features alongside iCloud storage. iCloud+ includes three new features, and Apple is not raising the prices of iCloud. Private Relay is the headlining new feature of iCloud+. Through Private Relay, all traffic leaving your device is encrypted and sent through two separate relays. Apple says that no one, not even Apple, can access or view this data. This feature sounds quite a bit like an Apple VPN....

The Apple jobs website has been revamped, with a new video providing a taste of what it’s like to work for one of the world’s most desirable employers. This is where some of the world’s smartest, most passionate people create the world’s most innovative products and experiences. Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life — and make a difference in other people’s lives. A new About Apple page aims to give a flavor of what it’s like to work for the company, albeit heavily biased toward new product development roles....

Market intelligence company Canalys last week demoted Apple’s smartphone sales in China to part of the ‘Others’ category, a far cry from the 2015 peak where its market share was somewhere in the 40-50% range in Urban China. Analysts are now saying that Apple’s relegation to the ‘also ran’ stakes may be permanent … Business Insider cites three different analysts, with even noted Apple bull Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley predicting ‘continued weakness in China....

Apple this week has started a new Apple Music “Ambassador” marketing campaign for its streaming platform, quietly recruiting students and giving them perks in exchange for promoting the service and recruiting others. The new effort targets college students specifically, making them so-called official “Apple Music Ambassadors” on Twitter to promote the service. The program is being run via a third-party marketing company called Social Chain that it appears Apple has hired (Social Chain lists Apple alongside other high-profile clients on its website)....

Customers in need of a whole unit replacement for their fourth generation iPad may now receive a newer and more capable iPad Air 2 as a substitute from Apple Stores and authorized service providers. Apple is implementing the new policy, allowing its repair staff to ship an iPad Air 2 for a unit replacement when stock of the aging and now discontinued 4th gen iPad isn’t available. Apple’s memo also notes for staff to inform customers of the replacement unit’s color and capacity....

Apple released iOS 6.1.3 beta 2 to developers just last week with enhancements to Maps in Japan, as well as the promise of a fix for the highly publicized Lock Screen bug. While we noted at the time that the update could fix exploits used for the recent evasi0n jailbreak, the evad3rs team has now had time to test the update and confirmed to Forbes that 6.1.3 breaks evasi0n. Team member David Wang, aka @planetbeing, explained Apple has patched one of the five critical exploits that evasi0n is currently using:...

A couple more recently granted Apple patents are emerging today (via PatentlyApple), one of which details an interesting new docking station with intelligent accessory power management, while once again providing hints at a secondary 30-pin connector for landscape orientation. The idea is to be able to provide various devices– portable media players(iPod), cell phones (iPhone), monitors (iTV?)– with the ideal power source through a single accessory. It would also allow Apple to safely power larger devices such as a monitor through the same accessory....

Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan (stars of The Falcon and Winter Soldier) have spoken about the Spider-Man controversy to show their support for Tom Holland. Reaction continues to pour in regarding the shocking news that Marvel will no longer produce Spider-Man movies going forward. Fans have been reasonably upset about the development, starting Spider-Man hashtags which have dominated social media and circulating online petitions to bring the Webbed Wonder back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe....

Concerns about the performance hit of mitigating the security flaw in Intel, AMD and ARM processors appear to have been dramatically overblown. The initial report in The Register suggested ‘a ballpark figure of 5-30% slow-down,’ but Intel now says that the performance impact ‘should not be significant,’ with Apple and others agreeing that this is the case … Reuters carried the report. Apple said in its own statement that there was no measurable hit....

Memorabilia from the early years of Apple regularly goes up on the auction block ranging from early Mac computers, manuscripts, and more. This week, we’re seeing a “ten years of creativity” plaque signed by Steve Jobs go up for action, as well as a unique version of the Apple-1 operation manual. The plaque is a rather unique piece of Apple memorabilia. It was issued to Suzzane Lindbergh in 2000 and a way to “recognize those who have contributed a decade of personal achievement to Apple’s phenomenal success....

The proposed laws in question are the American Innovation and Choice Online Act and the Open App Markets Act. Both pieces of legislation are set to be considered this week, and each threatens to force the two tech giants to comply with changes in US law surrounding app store exclusivity. Specifically, the bills contain language that would force Apple and Google to allow third-party alternatives into their respective walled garden mobile operating systems....

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker is set to expand to another new country this summer. As first spotted by Gizmodo, HomePod will launch in Japan in the coming weeks for 32,800 yen. HomePod was first rumored to be coming to Japan last year, but that did not come to fruition until now. Apple still hasn’t given an exact launch date for HomePod in the country, but the order page is now live and Apple is teasing a summer release....

Apple has updated its homepage today in commemoration of Martin Luther King, which Apple CEO Tim Cook has often noted as an inspiration for his work. Cook says he has pictures of Martin Luther King on his desk. However, this is the first time Apple has recognised Martin Luther King day (which happens on the third Monday of every January) so openly on its website. Many American tech companies give employees the day off, but Apple has elected not to do this....

Apple today has officially announced its highly anticipated iPhone 12 event for October 13 at 10 a.m. PT. Much like WWDC 2020 and the September “Time Flies” event, the iPhone 12 announcement event will be completely virtual and streamed directly from Apple Park. Apple is teasing the event with the “Hi, Speed” tagline. Apple October event details This event will mark the second Apple event within the last month. On September 15, Apple held a virtual event to announce its latest Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6 hardware, alongside a new iPad Air and the 8th generation iPad, Apple Fitness+, and the Apple One services bundle....

Apple Vice President for Education John Couch and other company executives met with Turkish President Abdullah Gül on Friday, according to the country’s presidential website that also posted a photo and video of the meeting. MacRumors claimed—via Turkish website Elma Dergisi [translation]—the meeting concerned Turkey’s $4.5 billon tablet program and the incorrect layout of the Turkish F-keyboard: However, WorldBulletin.net, another Turkish website, specifically claimed the meeting involved Apple’s “second-class treatment” of Turkey:...

Apple has launched its Back to School promotional offer for the 2021 season. Customers can get a free pair of AirPods bundled with the purchase of eligible Mac and iPad purchases. Free bundled AirPods are available as standard, and customers can pay the extra to get AirPods Pro. Students, parents and school faculty in the United States can take advantage of the offer from now until September 27. Details after the break …...