Apple's iPhone Developer License Agreement Revealed
nigham writes "The EFF is publicly disclosing a version of Apple's iPhone developer program license agreement. The highlights: you can't disclose the agreement itself (the EFF managed to get it via the Freedom of Information Act thanks to NASA's recent app), Apple reserves the right to kill your app at any time with no reason, and Apple's liability in any circumstance is limited to 50 bucks. There's also this gem: 'You will not, through use of the Apple Software, services or otherwise create any Application or other program that would disable, hack, or otherwise interfere with the Security Solution, or any security, digital signing, digital rights management, verification or authentication mechanisms implemented in or by the iPhone operating system software, iPod Touch operating system software, this Apple Software, any services or other Apple software or technology, or enable others to do so.' The entire agreement (PDF) is up at the EFF's site." Read more of this story at Slashdot.
published today, 2 hours 30 minutes ago, apple-slashdot
The best electronic key is the one you always have with you
"The best camera is the one you have with you" is an old photography adage, and Apple may be looking to extend that principle to its iPhone. And it's not about the iPhone as a camera, either—if you always have it with you, an iPhone could serve as a remote control device for any number of uses, including as a wireless electronic key. Using the iPhone as an electronic key is part of a recently published patent application titled "Motion Based Input Selection." It's important to remember that the patent application itself merely describes a unique way of using motion detection to generate an input, such as turning a virtual combination lock-style dial. Still, it's the suggested uses of a unique numerical sequence or other combination of input that is generating excitement. The Telegraph says that the patent is already being referred to as the "iKey" patent, based on the suggestion that a "device" such as an iPhone could use the motion-based input method to generate a combination which is then "transmitted to an external device to unlock the external device." Such an external device could be anything, including an "electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house, or other physical area." The patent in particular describes methods in which the input could be selecting combinations of numbers, letters, colors, or images, or even a combination. In fact, if the external device is suitably capable, it can send an application the necessary configuration of input needed to unlock it. The possible inputs can also be randomized, and the transmission between the mobile device and the external device could encrypted for greater security. Since the iPhone is the kind of device you tend to always have with you, it could be a great all-in-one control device. For instance, Apple also recently filed a patent application for using the iPhone as a sort of advanced universal remote—one that can dim the lights, adjust the surround sound, switch the TV to "cinema mode," all in preparation for watching a movie at night. The company already offers an app that can control iTunes or an Apple TV remotely, and other apps exist to control home automation systems or a DSLR tethered to a WiFi-equipped computer. Car security firm Viper also offers an app to lock, unlock, and remotely start a vehicle that has the company's SmartStart electronics installed. Though many remote applications already exist for the iPhone—including one that locks and unlocks a car—perhaps Apple could leverage the patent's motion sensing to build an app with a consistent interface that is designed to communicate with a wide variety of lock devices, making the iPhone an out-of-the-box electronic key. Read the comments on this post
published yesterday, 21 hours 8 minutes ago, ars-technica
Pay with an AmEx (Gift) Card in the iTunes Store
A few days ago, I wanted to get iTunes to accept my AmEx Gift Card, but somehow it always said the security code was invalid. Different from VISA and MasterCard, the security code from an AmEx Card is on the front and is four digits long. There was no doubt this code was in fact valid, and I was typing it correctly. Obviously I wasn't the only one with this problem -- Apple's Support Discussion Board was filled with people complaining about that, and the "hints" there weren't working at all. As for me, it worked after I put an empty space after the last number on the card. The reason: iTunes wanted to have 4 4-digit parts (16 digits) of the credit card number, but the AmEx had only had 15 digits. This was causing the invalid security code. However, you couldn't tell that in the first place, because all iTunes showed after rejecting the code was **** **** **** 4123. In fact, 123 were at positions 13 to 15 in the real credit card. But iTune...
published on Thursday, the 4. March 2010, macosxhints
Apple loses one, gains one in employee shuffle
Long-time Apple executive Pablo Calamera has left Apple in favor of a CTO gig elsewhere, while former Mozilla security chief Window Snyder started work at 1 Infinite Loop on Monday. Pablo will become the CTO at Thumbplay, a company specializing in ringtones and streaming music, while Snyder will work as a senior security product manager at Apple. According to the Thumbplay announcement, Calamera served as director of MobileMe service while at Apple. Despite the service's less-than-stellar reputation during his time there. Thumplay saw fit to scoop up Calamera. The newly branded CTO spent time at Danger Inc. and WebTV Networks, among others, before joining Apple. As noted by PC World, the Snyder hire comes on the heels of her time managing security consultants at Microsoft and working on Windows XP and 2003 Server. What Snyder will do at Apple remains unclear, but the two variants of Safari (Windows and Mac) or the iPhone OS seem to be likely candidates for her expertise. Read the comments on this post
published on Tuesday, the 2. March 2010, ars-technica
Ex-Mozilla security lead joins Apple
Apple has hired a former Mozilla security chief, Window Synder, to work as the company's new senior security product manager. Snyder first joined Mozilla in 2006, and is said to have professionalized Firefox security response during a time when hackers were turning their attention to the browser. She is also credited with being a security strategist at Microsoft, where she worked on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and in managing connections with security consultants....
published on Tuesday, the 2. March 2010, macintosh-news-network