rob53

Again, "According to numerous reports said to be out of Apple headquarters" we're left with anonymous statements from Jason Snell. Have some guts Jason and spill the beans on who you're talking about. Let's have some transparency in journalism instead of the blatant garbage we have to put up with on a daily basis. If Jony's focus has changed, let's hear it from him on Apple's website. Until I do, I'm not believing anything I read from any website anymore. We just went through an election where 1.5 candidates lied through their teeth and I'm disgusted with this type of slander without consequences. If any of us here would have said a fraction of what they said or a fraction of the hearsay going on in today's news reporting, we'd either be in jail and broke from all the lawsuits against us. The first amendment doesn't protect lies so where's the truth?

If the chip doesn't include all operational capabilities then it should be considered defective and either disposed of or sold for no more than half its fully functional cost. If someone tells me a fully functional A18 SoC only costs $100 why does the rest of the iPhone cost so much? Dropping the cost of the binned SoC in half to $50 is chump change. Apple needs to justify its cost based on materials especially since the iPhone is no longer a unique device. Most of the iPhone is either the same as the previous version, very close, or was easy (not expensive) to upgrade. Someone is reaping the benefits of every new Apple device.

If I were to begin writing a security plan with the Apple Watch as a way to unlock a system, I'd be very nervous. I understand it's acceptable for ApplePay because it has more than one requirement to make it to work: 1) Watch attached to wrist, and 2) Watch authenticated to iPhone using PIN or TouchID (my emphasis, I wouldn't allow just the PIN), and 3) iPhone must be present. On the surface I might have been able to justify this combination but I'd like a few other questions answered before I would even have attempt to include it as a secure means of unlocking a computer.

1. Does the Apple Watch have some way of authenticating to the wrist it is attached to? Don't start laughing because if it doesn't, the FBI and other law enforcement people could simply attach the Apple Watch to their wrist, get close to a locked Mac and it would unlock.

2. How long does the authentication process stay in effect before the user has to re-authenticate their Apple Watch? If the time period isn't too long, say one day, then it might be acceptable and make #1 moot.

3. How secure and anti-sniffing is the version of Bluetooth used in all these devices? Can a hacker walk around with a sniffer in their pocket and sniff the Bluetooth communication going on between the devices and, most importantly, simulate it enough to unlock the computer the minute the user steps away?

4. When the user leaves their Mac, does the computer get automatically locked? If so, from how far away. If not, this is a feature I'd absolutely demand and I'd want the distance to be minimal, like maybe 10 feet.

5. The hardest part with getting this new feature approved for use on government computers is the unfortunate fact that the US government continues to ignore Macs and Mac security. They have begun to use iOS devices and have approved configurations (there are approved configured for Macs but they really could care less). In order for this combination of hardware to be approved for government use, all three devices would need to be approved individually then the unlocking process specifically approved. The government isn't going to "waste" its time doing this so Apple needs to step up and make sure that before macOS Sierra is released all the updated security enhancements have been documented and approved by NIST, NSA, and the US government. I'm not holding my breath so I see this feature as being fun for Apple Watch users but doubt it will ever be used within the enterprise or government installation. Apple, please prove my wrong.

Why in Texas? People thought Apple's products were getting too expensive, just wait for products coming out of Texas. They will break everyone's budget. Who in Texas will actually work at this manufacturing facility? Will everything be automated? Where will the people for these 20K come from, India? Who's going to build the facility? Not the hardest workers from south of the border. trump made sure of that.