Apple made the shift after years of working for a completely autonomous goal that is unlikely to be realised for decades. Along with the fundamental adjustment, the business has pushed back its projected delivery date to 2026 and is now hoping to offer its vehicle to customers for less than $100,000 per vehicle. It is also searching for a partner to help it improve its underlying technology (the steering system and car base).
Apple improves security by offering end-to-end encrypted iCloud backups.
This week, the business introduced three big security enhancements: end-to-end encrypted iCloud backups, physical security keys, and contact verification inside iMessage. The encrypted backups are the most important piece of news. It implies Apple will not have access to the encryption key for the majority of the data you back up to iCloud (excluding mail, contacts and calendars).
This is significant because if a hacker obtains access to your cloud data, all of the security safeguards built into Apple’s hardware and software are rendered ineffective. That shouldn’t happen now that backups have been improved. Physical security keys are an added advantage. Of course, Google has had that capability for years for its own accounts, but it’s wonderful to see Apple follow up.
Tim Cook launches Apple’s Made-in-America chip effort in Arizona.
Tim Cook arrived at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s Arizona chip factory opening ceremony, as anticipated in my report last month, to confirm that Apple would begin manufacturing chips in the United States. This is a major thing for local manufacturing and the company’s efforts to lessen dependence on Asia-based production, although the work will be very restricted for the time being.
When it opens in 2024, the factory will produce just roughly 20,000 wafers each month. Even though Apple will be the biggest TSMC client in Arizona, it will only get around one-third of the facility’s supplies. Furthermore, the chips themselves will be less complex than those created elsewhere. Even though TSMC committed to advance the technology to the 4-nanometer standard (an upgrade over the initial 5-nanometer goal), this may be out of date by the time flagship iPhones are needed in 2025 and beyond.
