Apple prevails in forced iPhone unlock case in New York court

FBI has been unable to unlock the iPhone of Syed Farook, AKA the San Bernardino Gunman, who on 02 December 2015, was one of the perpetrators of the killing 14 people & wounding of 21.

Apple has energetically argued that it should not be required to unlock the phone, & that in any case it is unable to do so, due to the security level of the the device, an iPhone 5c, running iOS 9.

In a case with some similarities, Apple had a victory in a New York court on Monday.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/apple-prevails-in-forced-iphone-unlock-case-in-new-york-court/

http://www.wired.com/2016/02/judge-says-apple-doesnt-have-to-unlock-iphone-in-case-similar-san-bernardino/
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¹ “San Bernardino: Gunman Syed Rizwan Farook came from 'religious but modern' family” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-04/who-were-the-san-bernardino-shooters/7000308

² “San Bernardino shooting in numbers”, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34998778 / Apple prevails forced iPhone unlock case New York court ruling All Writs Act AWA Congress hasn't granted judge New York ruled Monday 29 February 2016 favor Apple case investigators court compel unlock seized iPhone 5S running iOS 7 Apple company can unlock case drug dealer already pleaded guilty pre-dates Apple's over a locked iPhone 5C belonged shooters December 2015 terrorist attack San Bernardino case heard court next month nearby Riverside California San Bernardino case iPhone 5c running iOS 9 Apple cannot unlock California case federal investigators unprecedented court order compelling Apple create new firmware unlock device Apple formally challenged order outcome pending coasts coast Apple fighting government government's FBI FBI’s use the same law AWA All Writs Act obscure catchall statute dates back to the 18th Century related AWA cases unlocking Apple devices pending nationwide US Magistrate Judge James Orenstein ruled that government asking went too far ruling first of its kind topic no legal bearing outcome California case proceeding different federal judicial districts Apple Riverside judge persuaded decision company executive granted anonymity call reporters judge wrote Monday ruling AWA's usages and principles clause intended accomplish means executive branch achieve legislative goal Congress considered and rejected rejection can take many forms least likely most circumstances outright prohibition government's argument manifestly irreconcilable statute New York case Judge Orenstein Apple court government could not compel unlock seized phone Apple case defendant Jun Feng pleaded guilty one count of conspiracy distribute possess intent distribute methamphetamine speed Judge Orenstein government issue Apple's compliance not pointless given guilty plea government's filing prosecutors investigation needed data Feng's phone iOS 8 or later installed iPhones Apple enables full encryption default company not technically feasible respond government warrants extraction data devices in their possession running iOS 8 key portion ruling particularly concerned government’s expansive view law government’s assertion Apple licenses rather than sells software company retains control devices smartphones smart phones smartphone smart phone connected Internet of Things government's theory licensing agreement compel manufacturers surveil products' users result virtually limitless expansion government's legal authority surreptitiously intrude on personal privacy AWA as construed by the government confer on the judiciary overbroad authority override individual autonomy easily avoided case government's arguments principled limit court person company violate most deeply-rooted values provide assistance government court deems necessary Judge Orenstein asked government oral arguments interpretation All Writs Act federal authorities compel manufacturer lethal injection drugs corporate moral objections government answer oral arguments later filing depend on the circumstances Judge Orenstein government explain authority same arguments court force private citizens commit moral equivalent government's government establish lack of unreasonable burden concluded Orenstein’s opinion arguments Apple San Bernardino filing lawyers wrote government’s boundless interpretation All Writs Act limits orders government Apple forced write code bypass security features create new accessibility stop government demanding Apple write code government surveillance Supreme Court privacy law scholars case influence case pending court in California meticulous scholarly opinion Alex Abdo attorney American Civil Liberties Union court requests from the government Rep. Ted Lieu D-Calif. four congressmen computer science degree decision validates Congress specifically rejected FBI's proposal backdoors weaken encryption 1789 law not appropriate situation New York case 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals California case 9th Circuit Court of Appeals appellate courts disagree limits All Writs Act constituting circuit split ruling nation's highest court federal courts California New York authority AWA government force Apple unlock iPhones conflict resolved Congress clarifying the law Supreme Court settling Neil Richards law professor Washington University St. Louis /

Malala has some wisdom for Donald Trump (video)

Wisdom for the man who inherited a great deal of money from his father & has since barely outperformed the S&P,^1,2,3 from the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize:

"The more you speak about Islam & against all Muslims, the more terrorists we create." – Malala Yousafzai

Start viewing at the 4:10 mark for the quote above:



http://www.aol.com/article/2015/12/16/malala-shuts-down-donald-trump-in-the-best-possible-way/21284428/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/12/16/malala-shuts-down-donald-_n_8816198.html
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¹ “Did Donald Trump inherit a lot of money & then increase his net worth at an unremarkable rate?”, https://www.quora.com/Did-Donald-Trump-inherit-a-lot-of-money-and-then-increase-his-net-worth-at-an-unremarkable-rate

² "Trump Worth $10 Billion Less Than If He’d Simply Invested in Index Funds", https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-probably-better-investing-donald-233020366.html

³ "Yes, Donald Trump’s dad really is the reason he’s rich",
https://topherhallquist.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/yes-donald-trumps-dad-really-is-the-reason-hes-rich/ / response Donald Trump proposed Muslim ban youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner youngest-ever Nobel laureate won the Nobel Peace Prize Malala Yousafzai making headlines responding Donald Trump's proposed ban on Muslims from entering the U.S.A. USA Republican presidential front-runner proposed banning Muslims entering U.S. Trump's latest comments Muslim community stirred up many responses Malala Yousafzai herself UK's Channel 4 Trump's controversial comments Malala politicians say media say really careful about it your intention stop terrorism blame the whole population of Muslims stop terrorism radicalize more terrorists Malala Yousafzai UK Channel 4 interview 18-year-old proposed end terrorism quality education defeat mindset terrorism mentality hatred Yousafzai's father making headlines comments Trump's anti-Muslim comments very unfair very unjust associate 1.6 billion a few terrorist organisations number of Muslims worldwide youngest-ever Nobel laureate won Nobel Peace Prize Donald Trump wild things said about Islam Muslims GOP presidential candidate stop all Muslims entering United States of America /

Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Japan looks like a roller coaster for cars

Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Japan
Credit: Pinterest

Actually, the gradient is 6.1 percent one side & 5.1 percent on the other. Much of the effect, particularly in the image on the left, above, is due to the angle & a long lens, although the bridge does rise 44 meters (about 144 feet).



http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/eshima-ohashi-bridge_n_7213846.html?section=australia / Eshima Ohashi Bridge Japan looks absolutely terrifying seen truly terrifying bridges before nothing quite as scary-looking Eshima Ohashi Bridge Japan bridge connects cities city Matsue Sakaiminato straight into the sky suddenly drop off built high fishing boats can pass underneath structure fortunately isn’t quite steep nearly a mile long bridge gradient of 6.1 percent one side 5.1 percent other cars gradually ascend less scary for drivers bridge appears photos are taken straight-on angle in pictures Eshima Ohashi roller coaster bridge nickname traffic jam at the top /

Patent Wars – Appeals Court throws out $119.6 million of Apple wins

Credit: Cult of Mac

Adding salt to the wound, the court upheld a finding that Apple owes $158,400 in damages for infringing a Samsung patent on video compression.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-26/apple-loses-appeal-in-119-6-million-samsung-patent-case / Apple Inc. lost appeals court ruling Samsung Electronics Co. $119.6 million patents smartphone features Apple patents slide-to-unlock feature invalid wasn’t infringed U.S. appeals court ruled decision Samsung check cheque Apple smartphone features won’t have to make changes older models appeals court threw out verdict Apple had won upheld a jury finding iPhone pay $158,400 damage award infringing Samsung patent video compression case major suits global patent war began in April 2011 Apple accused Samsung slavishly copying iPhone Apple victory case patented designs phone upheld on appeal awaiting possible consideration U.S. Supreme Court appeals court ruling clearly a loss for Apple Paul Berghoff patent lawyer McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff Chicago fight between the smartphone smart phone handset makers market changed smartphone wars Apple focused battling FBI privacy security issues settlement Apple executives settle Samsung Rachel Wolf Tulley Cupertino California-based Apple company no comment Danielle Meister Cohen Samsung spokeswoman preparing a statement case Apple Samsung infringed patents slide-to-unlock feature autocorrect detect phone numbers touched to make phone calls autocorrect patent invalid detection patent wasn’t infringed U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit opinion posted electronic docket court upheld jury’s verdict Apple patents universal search background syncing weren’t infringed Samsung counterclaim video compression jury Apple infringed one patent not the other appeals court agreed Federal Circuit panel Apple entitled to a narrow order forced Samsung remove slide-to-unlock other features infringe Apple patents Federal Circuit judges panels case Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., 2015-1171, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Washington /

First Ubuntu smartphone BQ Aquaris E4.5 may be coming soon

Credit: GalaxyOfTech

I last posted about Ubuntu Linux phones at the end of 2013. Just over 2 years later, we may be about to see a Ubuntu phone with:

● 5-inch, 540×960 resolution display

● 1.3 GHz quad-core Mediatek Cortex A7 processor

● 1 GB RAM

● 8 GB of internal flash storage

● 8-megapixel back camera

● 5-megapixel front camera

● price around €169.90 ($US195)

http://galaxyoftech.com/first-ubuntu-smartphone-bq-aquaris-e4-5-specifications-review/

http://www.techradar.com/au/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/bq-aquaris-e45-ubuntu-edition-1295353/review / Ubuntu smartphone BQ Aquaris E4.5 specifications review CANONICAL first UBUNTU telephone MEIZU BQ new handset repurposed variant AQUARIS E4.5 mid-range cell phone Android new Ubuntu edition equipment not a huge deal 5-inch 540×960 resolution display 1.3 GHz quad-core Mediatek Cortex A7 processor 1 GB RAM 8 GB internal storage capacity flash memory mass storage 8-megapixel back camera 5-megapixel snapper front specification specs unremarkable CANONICAL BQ think outside the box product deals system XIAOMI first UBUNTU handset smartphone smart phone online glimmer deals telephone bargain in Europe Ubuntu arranged deals THREE Sweden GIFFGAFF UK AMENA Spain PORTUGAL TELECOM offer SIM packs system BQ early adopters main glimmer deal UBUNTU Phone Canonical crowd fund crowdfund premium Ubuntu Edge Smartphone MEIZU BQ’S UBUNTU dispatch window portable OS product SCOPES home screens committed to one subject music feature news different sources Youtube application viewing online features application viewing features saved money telephone feature extension differentiates it from IOS Android Cristian Parrino VP Mobile Canonical component keen procedure /

Some ways the Samsung Galaxy S7 is better than the iPhone – update

Samsung Galaxy S7 microSD & SIM card carrier
Credit: Life Hacker Australia

Camera

You’ve probably heard that that the quality of the image a camera produces isn’t simply a matter of pixels, & the camera in the S7 looks set to prove it. The S7 has a 12 megapixel camera, down from 16 in the S6. Samsung claim the new camera will produce superior images, particularly in low light. This may be a hard idea to sell, but there are good reasons to believe it can work.

Cameras in top-of-the-range phones are remarkably good, despite the compromises required to cram them into the tiny space available in a phone which has skinny-jeans-compatibility as a major design parameter. A small space for the camera means a small space for the light-sensitive sensor. A high pixel count means that each individual pixel is smaller. The resulting minuscule light-sensitive pixels perform poorly, particularly in low-light, where they produce dark, low-contrast, “noisy” images.

A small sensor can most obviously be improved by making it bigger. While constrained by skinny-jeans-compatibility, Samsung has increased the size of the camera’s photo-sensor marginally from 1/2.6 inch (in the S6) to 1/2.5 inch in the S7. When combined with a reduced pixel-count, the S7 has significantly larger pixels. Rumour has it, 1.4 micron pixels, in the Galaxy S7, 1.12 micron in the S6.

Update: 1.4 micron pixels confirmed – camera teardown at: http://www.chipworks.com/about-chipworks/overview/blog/samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-teardown

Samsung claims that, in practice the new, larger pixels, are able to gather 56 percent more light than before, for better low-light images.

More obviously, images can be improved by letting more light into the camera, & Samsung have added an f1.7 lens.

A lens which lets in more light is sometimes said to be “fast”. This is a reference to the fact that with more light, the exposure time can be shorter, which leaves less time for camera shake or movement by the subject to reduce the quality of the image. Tim Cook could have recently used such a feature to avoid embarrassment at the Super Bowl.

We’ll have to wait for sample images, but taken together, these changes should yield better images, particularly in low light.

Fast charging

0-60% battery charge in 30 minutes.

microSD card

Returns in the S7 after being omitted from the S6, although Samsung hasn’t taken advantage of the latest Adoptable microSD capability in Android Marshmallow.

Waterproof

IP68 standard – one meter under water for 30 minutes. Also in the S5, omitted from the S6.



More at:
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/02/10-ways-the-samsung-galaxy-s7-trumps-every-iphone/?utm_source=Lifehacker+Australia&utm_campaign=ebdc676818-lifehacker_2016_02_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9fc709844c-ebdc676818-278953185 / 10 things Samsung Galaxy S7 can do iPhone can't Samsung Galaxy S7 Galaxy S7 Edge phones phone MWC event Barcelona hands-on time Galaxy S7 phones press event New York City impressed features functions iPhone Galaxy S7 iPhone can’t Galaxy S7 water-resistant Apple added gasket iPhone 6s iPhone dunked under water survive Samsung waterproof Galaxy S7 is water-resistant rated IP68 dust water resistance standard meter under water 30 minutes charge really quickly fast charge Galaxy S7 quick-charging microUSB charge completely hour and a half iPhone 6s Plus takes three hours to charge main benefit quick charging Galaxy S7 big jolt juice short period of time up to 60% battery life 30 minutes of charging charge wirelessly charge wireless quickly Samsung quick wireless charging charges faster regular wired charging wired quick-charging faster wireless charging place your phone on a charging dock get a boost during the day always topped up with battery Galaxy S7’s camera auto-focus faster than iPhone 6s Samsung Galaxy S7’s camera against iPhone’s MWC showroom floor S7 notably quicker locking onto objects takes better photos in the dark brief side-by-side tests S7 was superior low-light situations compared iPhone 6s add more storage with microSD card Samsung reintroduced microSD card slot Galaxy S7 slot incorporated into SIM card tray add up to an additional 200 GB bigger battery standard Galaxy S7 3,000mAh battery S7 Edge 3,600mAh battery iPhone 6s 1,715mAh battery 6s Plus has a 2,750mAh battery tested battery life Galaxy S7 smartphones last longer iPhone much bigger than iPhones’ batteries Samsung Pay credit card readers Samsung Pay almost any credit card reader even really old ones iPhone’s Apple Pay only works newer credit card terminals near-field communication NFC technology built into them store supports Apple Pay always-on screen always-on display new Galaxy S7 phones glance basic information date time basic information your notifications wake the phones iPhone wake the display check time notifications Galaxy S7 Edge widgets curved display’s edges access favorite apps contacts news make shortcuts actions composing text message edge Galaxy S7 Edge curved screen /

The dark side of trendy animal photos

“The International Union for Conservation of Nature, which sets species’ conservation status, lists the La Plata dolphin as vulnerable to extinction, protecting it from hunting and capture in Argentina – but not from people passing one of them around until it died from dehydration.” – Mary Bates, National Geographic

No words.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160222-exotic-pets-wildlife-pets-nature-animals/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_tw20160223news-wildlifeselfies&utm_campaign=Content&sf21390311=1 / dark side of trendy animal photos think before you shoot video snap selfies with creatures wild animals selfies GIFs viral videos deadly for wildlife endangered baby dolphin died beachgoers Argentina hauled it out of the water pose photos two peacocks Chinese zoo died mishandled visitors taking selfies International Union for Conservation of Nature sets species’ conservation status La Plata dolphin vulnerable to extinction protecting protect protected protection hunting hunt capture Argentina people passing one around died from dehydration asphyxiation anyone intended to harm animal excitement thrill drew people in Neil D’Cruze head of Wildlife Policy and Research World Animal Protection UK shows interaction with wild animal habitat terrible deadly as animals captivity thousands species wild animals suffer exotic pet trade exact scale problem huge many animals traded illegally social media has changed the landscape exotic animals seem adorable acceptable what suffering lies behind the images animals trending Internet belong in the wild slow lorises venomous primates famous Internet videos nine species slow lorises threatened with extinction illegal pet trade two recent studies documenting illegal trade in slow lorises typical way they’re kept constitutes animal cruelty researchers examined 100 online videos pet lorises depicted unhealthy abused animals malnourished obese sick afraid distressed Louisa Musing Oxford Brookes University study authors videos expose slow lorises audiences around the world fueling demand pets distorting people’s understanding where they belong healthy environment cute videos suitable unsuitable as pets wild complex animals coauthor Anna Nekaris Little Fireface Project what appears cute is actually horrific slow loris move slowly freeze when stressed grab onto anything they can in the wild loris holding a fork raising his arms in the air are both signs of stress slow lorises should never be pets complex needs just cannot be met in a private household wild animals that need to stay in the wild raccoon dog raccoon dog tanuki owner tweeted photos pet leashed walks heater snowstorm begging for food look like raccoons wild members canid family like foxes and wolves native to East Asia biologists western Soviet Union hunted fur reproduced spread west central western Europe freeing pet raccoon dogs animals become too difficult to handle recently two raccoon dogs countryside in Wales abandoned pets invasive species compete indigenous wildlife spread disease introduce pathogens decimating native animals Clifford Warwick consulting biologist medical scientist studied exotic pet trade raccoon dogs pose big threat local amphibians ground-nesting birds invasive raccoon dogs harbor high levels of parasites infect people zoonoses diseases that can jump from animals to humans carried by exotic pets pet reptiles carry salmonella responsible for tens of thousands of cases of human illness U.S. each year local wildlife at risk chytrid fungus wiping out amphibian populations worldwide actually transmitted by the exotic pet trade pygmy marmoset world’s smallest monkeys endangered die easily in captivity /