The iPhone of San Bernardino

On December 2, 2015, a Pakistani couple carried out a terrorist attack at a banquet in San Bernardino, California.  The attack left 14 people dead and 22 injured.  The couple fled from the scene, but were pursued and killed by the police in a shootout 4 hours later.  The two were confirmed to have pledged allegiance to the Middle Eastern Terrorist group known as ISIS over social media, but did not carry out the attack under their orders.  In other words, the attack was not carried out by ISIS, but the couple was inspired by them to do it.  An iPhone was found, belonging to the couple, that was suspected to have information related to the attack on its hard drive.  Apple was asked by the FBI to open the phone, but Apple could not due to its encryption.  In a statement published on February 16, 2016, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, said, ”We have great respect for the professionals at the FBI, and we believe their intentions are good. Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them. But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone.”(Cook).  The FBI has asked Apple to create a new form of the iPhone operating system (iOS) that would have a weakness in the code (and therefore would allow access into the phone) and install it in that one iPhone.  Apple refused to do so, due to the fact that there is no guarantee that

a.) The FBI would only use it for only this case, as they stated, or that

b.) It would fall into the wrong hands, allowing evildoers to access the contents of every iPhone in existence.  
Honestly, I think that the attack itself was a terrible act, one that should be considered as terrorism.  I also think that if there is data on the phone that could be vital to the security of the people of the United States, Apple should develop that software and install it onto that phone.  After the data is retrieved, Apple can supervise the FBI to make sure that they dispose of the software properly.  This would be to make sure that the software does not fall into the wrong hands, what with all of the cyber-criminals surfacing these days.  That would be bad.  Of course, that raises the question, what if there isn’t any information on the phone?  So what if there is nothing on the phone?  There is a reason for suspicion, (Come on, it was a terrorist attack) so the phone should be investigated, even if it ends up that there is not any information on it.  Now I ask you readers, what are your thoughts on this incident?  What should Apple and the FBI do about it?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.  

~Laxman

iPhone 6 Mania

As most people know, the iPhone 6 and 6 plus have recently come out and it’s being sold out in stores all around the United States. This is Apple’s ninth and tenth iPhone since 2007 and it’s larger and slimmer than ever before,with a new retina HD display and an improved camera. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7 inch display and is 6.9 mm while the iPhone 6 plus has a 5.5 inch display and is 7.1 mm. Also accompanying the new phone is the release of IOS 8.  All these new features have people lining up in and around stores just for the hope that they will be able to bring it home. One person is Jason Hawkins who arrived at his verizon store at 4 a.m and was the second person in line. Most people had to wait overnight such as Michael Sharf, who was awaiting a 6 plus. This just shows that people care a lot about technology.

I have the iPhone 5s which was released in September of 2013, and I am completely happy with it. Considering this is my first iPhone and i’ve only had it for about four weeks, I felt no need to wait for an even larger phone. The iPhone 5s has some, but not many similarities to the 6 and 6 plus, one of which includes touch ID. Touch ID is where you can use your fingerprint to unlock your phone and buy apps and music. Other than that, almost everything is improved from the 5s. The truth is, Apple will keep updating their phones and their computers, one after the other, and people are always going to want “the best” and “the newest”, and some people might get them. But if you have an iPhone now, and you’re just dying to have the new phone now you don’t have to. Next year there might be an iPhone 6c or 6s, maybe even an iPhone 7. So don’t worry, one day you might have something even better.

~Michelle

Apple’s iPhone 5s, a Win or a Lose?

Apple is one of the dominating companies in the phone business, but many are raising eyebrows on their new releases. The iPhone is one of the most used phones in the world, but is Apple using good and revolutionary ideas? Many may argue that they are reusing old ideas and aren’t on the top of the list for most innovative. The chassis of the iPhone 5s is the same as the 5, but with a few hardware changes.

First, the core in the 5s is faster than its predecessor. The new updated A7 chip now is 64-bit chip which means better processing speeds and computing power. This chip will also allow for more RAM, which in the future is great for IOS developers. New to the phone is the M7 chip. This special chip reads the accelerometer, gyrometer and compass separately from the CPU. With the CPU still asleep data from the M7 chip can be recorded even when the phone is off while not running out your battery. This therefore saves battery while recording data for apps related to health, running, etc.

Secondly, the camera has been updated and has really been a huge hit with consumers. The new camera has large pixels which allows better low light pictures. Also, the new 8 megapixel camera captures hi-resolution picture that come out stunning. The camera isn’t the best on the market, but combines great features to make an overall great camera.

Finally, the main change in the iPhone 5s is the home button. Apple reinvented the home button by turning it into a Touch ID Sensor. This new feature has had a lot of hype from the media and is a great new feature. The Touch ID Sensor lets you unlock your phone without a password. Also, you can use your fingerprint as you Apple ID for quick download. Touch ID is also very secure, with your fingerprint only accessible to perform two tasks, so other apps cannot locate the information.

These ideas are new but I believe that Apple isn’t leading the pack in innovation  anymore and that Android competitors are creeping up on Apple with design. Even though Apple hasn’t reinvented the iPhone they made a great decision for the company  business wise. This is because they didn’t spend money on design and testing for the new Phone. By reusing the iPhone 5 chassis Apple doesn’t waste time on designing an entire new phone, but just changes a few hardware and then sells it. This is and smart and safe move by Apple and I believe it was the right decision.

~Nick

Is The iPhone 5c Really Worth It?

The iPhone 5c is the newest member of the iPhone family! It is just like the iPhone 5, but now, it’s colored! The iPhone 5c is made out of brightly colored plastic, and a glass screen. Compared to the other iPhones, the 5c is very inexpensive. When the iPhone 4s went up for sale it had a starting price of $199, while the 5c has a starting price of $99! That’s a $100 difference! Many people love their 5c, but many other people are complaining that it is much more fragile than the other iPhones. They say that the glass and the plastic break very easily. Even if they are fragile, the bright colors are amazing! The 5c comes in white, black, blue, green, pink, and yellow. I would get the blue

I believe that the 5c is worth it. Even though it is fragile, you can always get a case. You could also be more careful with the phone. The colors just make me like it even more! Iphones have never let you have colors besides white and black before. Now with the 5c you can get a phone that can represent you a little more than it could before. If I could I would definitely invest in an iPhone.

~Emily

What is Up With the iPhone 5S?

The iPhone 5s was released on Friday, September 20, 2013. The prices for this phone are, $199 for a 16GB, $299 for a 32GB, and $399 for a 64GB. You can choose either AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon for a service. It also comes with ios 7 fully installed to the latest update. The 5S has a fingerprint scanner as well. The scanner can be used to replace your number or complicated passcode to get into your Phone.

Personally, I think the iPhone 5S seems like a great phone to have. The part that doesn’t have me going, “I need to have that,” is the fingerprint scanner. It seems like a cool add on, but I don’t see a use for it. Currently, I don’t even have a passcode on my iPad mini. Other people might like it, but like I said, I do not. The price for the phone makes me want to get it really bad. I think $199 for a 16GB iPhone in a good deal. When the IPhone 5 came out  the $199 price was for an 8GB. That’s all I’ve got to say. What do you think of this phone and will you get it?

~Andrew

Color in the Phone

Did you say color? Well that is exactly what the iphone 5c is. Not only is it colorful, but it’s even better than the new iphone 5. The 5c is now made of tough plastic that not only has a smooth feel to it, but will protect your phone as well. It will seem like you are holding a diamond in your hand because it is so shiny, with its polycarbonate coat, it will gleam in the bright sun! You can also buy a new iphone 5c case. The soft silicone case creates even more popping, fun, and color contrasting greatness! The case has holes in it so you can see the phone color and the case color all at the same time!

Not all the new updates are on the outside, they are on the inside too! Now with a four inch retina display and an eight megapixel camera, you can now take amazing high definition pictures. The 5c now has the most LTE bands than any smartphone in the world, giving you fast and awesome usage. The now improved battery life gives you hours of fun whether its browsing the internet or playing fast performance games with outstanding graphics! The iphone 5c comes with the new ios7 update with the latest and greatest features to the Apple software, giving you more great features like itunes radio and airdrop.

The iphone 5c is really a great phone. A lot of people think it’s just a colorful plastic phone, but really it has a lot more than that. The 5c has great game quality, long battery life, LTE, and of course bright, fun colors. I would love to get this phone because I think that it is better than the iphone 5. Even though the iphone 5s just came out, the 5c still brings unique features to the iphone family. I truly believe this is a great phone, what do you think about it?

~Joe

Apple Releases iOS 7… Good or Bad?

It seemed to be that all the rage the other day, on September 20th, was about downloading the iOS 7 for your apple device. The update comes with brand new features; like a whole new look for your apps and lock screen or the new airdrop addition- which allows one “no setup” file sharing between devices. Pixel Envy’s Nick Heer writes that, “…iOS7 manages to preserve the familiar aspects of iOS while providing a brand new look and feel.” Additionally, “The redesign makes the entire user experience feel brighter and more alive.” However, some negative comments include the fact that the apps look less like actual buttons and seem flatter, and perhaps more importantly that the battery life doesn’t last as long as when one used the old version. But, in your opinion, is the new update better or worse?

Having just installed the iOS 7 on my own phone, I initially liked the way the apps looked. Later, though, I found them difficult to use because it was hard to adjust to the way they were displayed. In addition, I found myself frustrated with the lack of battery life. For example, just this morning when I picked up my phone, I noticed that the battery was at 100%. However, when I picked it up at 3 pm, without having used it, the battery was at only 28%. In conclusion, even though I may face some frustrations with the new format, I am confident that future versions will work any difficulties.

~Emily

Apple’s Fingerprint Technology

The new Iphone 5s includes a fingerprint sensor instead of a password to get into your phone. Sen. Al Franken doesn’t think it’s a safe idea. Franken said that while a password can be kept a secret and changed if it’s hacked, fingerprints are permanent and left on everything a person touches. He also said, “If hackers get a hold of your thumbprint, they could use it to identify and impersonate you for the rest of your life.” Apple says that the fingerprint data is stored in a place on the phone that other apps can’t access. This argument about passwords can go on forever. The good news is that there is an option of disabling the fingerprint password and using the regular 4 number password.

This is my personal opinion on the Apple fingerprint passcode. I don’t think that the fingerprint password is a good idea. For example, if the mom’s daughter wants to play with her phone she wouldn’t be able to unless her mom put her fingerprint into the phone. Also, what if the person who owns the phone forgot what finger they used? Then they’d probably have to get a whole new phone. And what if the person had an evil twin? The twin would have the same DNA and be able to get into her sisters phone. Then she would use her sisters pictures and information against her. She might even lose job opportunities because of that. So, as you can see the fingerprint password is a really bad idea.

~Victoria

IPhone 5s… Is it really worth getting?

So why are you getting the IPhone 5S?  Is it because it is so cool.  Is it because of the camera, and quality.  Is it just because the phone is so advanced and you want to see the graphics when playing IPhone games.  Or is it because you’re a teenager who just wants a new phone.  The newest IPhone is really worth getting but why do people want this new phone?

The IPhone 5S looks exactly like the iPhone 5. One of the only new and improved features is that the 5S has a better camera(with slow motion effect) than before, and a finger scanner.  The new camera’s slow-motion feature sounds cool, but there are a ton of apps that will give you this same ability such as Slow Pro.  The iPhone 5S will likely have to buy it unlocked (meaning not pre-owned and locked from previous owner) for at least $650.  If you had to choose between the new IPhone 5S or the IPhone 5 I would choose the new one even though the 5 is still a really good quality phone.  Just because you need a new phone doesn’t mean we all have to get it .

~Evan

New Apple Releases

Last week Apple’s CEO Tim Cook announced the release of the new iPhone 5S and 5C.  The 5S features a fingerprint security system, faster processor, IOS 7, and a higher quality camera, while the 5C is available in several different colors. The 5C is a new lower priced phone that was created to target customers in China and India who do not have a lot of money but still want the iPhone. This is the first time Apple has released two model phones at a time. This week they hit record sales, selling 9 million phones in the first week.

Some critics say Apple is losing it’s touch and is not releasing good products. I personally think that they are doing good because they  have already sold 9 million.  That’s a huge number. Also, customers have lined up days before the release and have stood in line to be the first handful of people to own the new phone.  I think Apple is doing  the best they’ve done in a while because they released two products at once and a have broke their own sales record.

~Sophie