steven n.

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steven n.
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  • Apple details user privacy, security features built into its CSAM scanning system

    steven n.steven n.
    Ok. So basically, Apple has decided to do an illegal search and seizure of our photos, have their system analyze them for what a government sponsored non-profit determines might be criminal (which of course can't ever be hacked or manipulated, as that's never happened to any company or database /s), then a non-police officer human will look at your photos and make a legal determination over them before taking you to the police. This is completely unconstitutional, as laid out in the fourth amendment:

    4th Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

    Where's the warrant that gives anyone the right to look at your personal photos, be it on your phone, on your server storage, or your personal home? This also such a clear violation of the precept of innocent before proven guilty, as everyone is suspected guilty, and therefore, searched. Apple is not law enforcement, nor have they been empowered by law enforcement, nor do they have a legal warrant issued by a judge to search your property.

    Apple has really opened the door here for so many violations it's not even funny. And this is the company that would not help unlock the phone of a terrorist, but will now scan every single, innocent person's phone, you know "for the children". That excuse has always covered up so many sins. 

    You know, since Apple has decided to look at our photos, and one of their employees may end up looking at your personal photos should their magical system of identification accidentally flag one of your photos, how about we all get a view at the personal photos of Tim Cook and all other Apple employees. It's only fair isn't it?

    Just pondering...
    There’s nothing illegal about it. Apple is a private entity that you have given access to your records. They can voluntarily give any and all of your information to law enforcement. Even regardless if you have a “contract” with them not to because that contract would be void. The 4th Amendment only protects you if the government is attempting to get information and the entity that has it resists. They can voluntarily give whatever information they have to law enforcement at any time.
    Depends if the government is the one requiring the private company to act as agents on their behalf. If this is being mandated by the government or even knowingly sanctioned by the government, the following would be very much in question:

    ”Courts routinely look to two critical factors in making a determination as to whether an individual was acting as a government agent: (1) whether the government knew of and acquiesced in the intrusive conduct, and (2) whether the private actor’s purpose was to assist law enforcement rather than to further his own ends.”

    in this case, both would be true and the Fourth Amendment would come into play. 
    xyzzy-xxxdarkvadernumenorean

  • Apple debuts $549 AirPods Max over-ear headphones

    steven n.steven n.
    sdw2001 said:
    No mic? I can't use it to talk with my iPhone? The fact that it has active noise cancellation proves it has some sort of mic in it, but not one I can speak into?

    It's labelled with L and R for the Left and Right sides. How are they going to market that in countries where English isn't known or spoken widely?
    Dude, please try reading the article. It has multiple mics.  And I'm pretty sure people can figure out what L and R mean.  🙄
    Dude, it's illegal to sell products in some countries that are English Only, regardless of whether they can figure it out.
    Links vs. Recht 

    L/R is “English only” for the unenlightened only. 
    randominternetpersonpmhRayz2016ronntokyojimusvanstromwelshdogkiltedgreenwatto_cobra

  • M1 Mac mini catapulted Apple to number one in Japanese desktop PC market

    steven n.steven n.
    blastdoor said:
    The price/performance/volume and per watt of the mini means that for some use cases, buying a ton of them and putting them in a server rack might make a lot of sense.

    For my own purposes the biggest hang up is the lack of a FORTRAN compiler. Next time I’m in the market to replace my Linux box, I’ll seriously consider 4 minis  if they continue to be this competitive and the compiler issue is resolved.
    What about Abstoft's FORTRAN compiler? Likewise, I think GCC (with the gfortan option) can compile FORTRAN code.
    watto_cobrajony0

  • Lawsuit alleges Apple involved in 'flagrant' music piracy on iTunes

    steven n.steven n.
    ihatescreennames said:
    It's odd to me that almost every (every?) one of these "iTunes is pirating my music" lawsuits seems to come from artists (or their representatives) that have 1) older music or 2) nearly unheard of music or 3) a combination of the previous two. I'm not saying that invalidates their claims by any means. How come we don't hear that sort of thing from current big name artists?

    Edit: Incidentally, it also seems that these are the artists that iTunes/Apple would be earning the least from. What is the incentive for Apple to be pirating music (at all, really) that likely isn't played/purchased very much?
    It has more to do with the labyrinth which is the rights management of the music industry. There are so many pieces from recording, song writing, to performance to ... and every party gets a chunk. Then holders die and the rights get spilt off to other people. Some of those will sell their parts to various holding companies which think they own 100% of the specific part of the rights but actually only own 70%. 15% went to Company XYZ, 7% went to Company ABC and the remaining 8% still sits in some unknown state.

    Then the 7% wonder realizes this and it is called "flagrant" copy right infringement because you are missing some aspect of the rights to distribute the song.
    mdriftmeyerbaconstangrazorpitcincyteecornchipkiltedgreenjony0ravnorodomspheric

  • Apple sources 20M face masks, designs and ships face shields for medical workers

    steven n.steven n.
    mjtomlin said:
    georgie01 said:

    My amateur projections saying the number of infected will quadruple over the next 2 week (in the USA)...

    I really hope I’m wrong.
    You may be right and of course that would be very bad, but we as a country desperately need perspective. As of now, if the coronavirus deaths quadruple they will still be less than projected deaths for the flu. It also very likely that the death rate is strongly skewed toward a higher death rate since those who are suffering are mainly the ones being tested.

    I only say these things because our panic and overreactions to the coronavirus is causing more problems than the virus itself. We need to take it seriously, but we need to have perspective and patience.


    Point 1. Anyone who suspects they may have is being tested, not just “those who are suffering”.

    Point 2. You cant base “overreacting” to what the numbers show NOW. This isn’t about NOW, its about preparing for what might come, if you dont do anything NOW. This ignorance is EXACTLY why the US has sharply risen in the passed week - no one took it seriously when they SHOULD have - long before it became a problem. With an epidemic you have to fix it before it begins, otherwise its too late.

    Point 3. “If the deaths quadruple” ... We havent even started with the body counts yet. The US is going to surge and surpass all other countries combined due to the lack of national leadership and management. 
    Point 2 is true to people overreacting. The mass hoarding of toilet paper is a perfect example. Likewise, I’m betting 80% of the beans, pasta and rice hoarded by people will go to waste and never be used. To me, that is overreacting. 

    Point 3 is a blatant lie. Period. The US was one of the earliest countries outside China infected and your lie of "lack of national leadership" can be shown as the lie it is by seeing how fast travel from China and Europe was curtailed (When compared to most western democracies). Many states, like CA and WA were quick to shut down while others, like NY were mind-numbingly slow to do things like shut down the Subway. As always, the STATES And local governments are the first line of defense because Wyoming (Currently at 0 deaths/million) is NOT New Jersey (103 Deaths/million) and Sublette Kansas is Not the Bronx NY. Each region is unique and requires unique handling.

    Likewise, your statement of "The US is going to surge and surpass all other countries combined" can be nothing but a sick twisted hopefulness on your part because it is not, at all, backed up by numbers. Given the growth rate in the US is clearly at its inflection point there is little reason to think our death rate of 29/million will come anywhere close to countries like Italy (263/million), Spain (270/million), Belgium (125/million), France (124/million), UK (73/million) or even Switzerland (83/million). Germany (19/million) is the one true bright spot and has done a great job of dealing with the outbreak. They were able to get testing rolled out fast and did great on early detection. 
    gatorguywilliamlondon