Friday Morning News

Originally published at: http://appletalk.com.au/2018/01/friday-morning-news190118/

A security vulnerability crashes the Messages app whenever a particular link has been loaded. Dubbed chaiOS, sending someone the link is enough to freeze their phone for a few minutes, after which Springboard resprings and then Messages continues to crash whenever it is opened. The vulnerability has to do with how iOS loads webpage previews within Messages, and as for their part, Apple has confirmed that a software update will be out next week to resolve this issue.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said in an interview with the American ABC that future iOS software updates will allow users to see their device’s battery health and even disable the power management feature that currently prevents random shutdowns. Of course, a slower device will be preferable to a device that turns off when placed under high load, but the idea behind this will be that Apple can go and say “ha! I told you so. We were right all along!”. Or something to that effect, anyway.

Motherboard reports an app that was initially rejected from the App Store due to providing no direct benefit to the end user. The app called Wehe purported to be able to discover net neutrality violations, a big topic in the US at the moment, but Apple rejected it because it was unclear how it did so, and whether it actually worked. Following the developer explaining to Apple how the app worked, it was approved shortly after.

As part of Apple’s $350 billion contribution to the US economy over the next five years, Apple will be giving all employees globally US $2500 in restricted stock units. Both full-time and part-time employees across all departments are eligible for the bonus, with everyone below the Director senior-level getting restricted stock units, with Cook saying the move demonstrated confidence in Apple’s future.

Forbes talked with FBI special agent John Bennett, who currently heads the FBI’s San Francisco division. Following news that the FBI thinks of Apple as jerks and evil geniuses, Bennett went on the record as saying Apple and the FBI had a functional, working relationship. Apple provides training to FBI agents on the best ways to extract information from their devices, in line with publicly available guidelines.

The design behind the new office chair used in Apple Park is an interesting one, as told by Fast Company. The Pacific Chair isn’t overly technical or flashy, but “quiet”, featuring “soothing curves” that blend into every possible environment. An unassuming chair is stark contrast to the ergonomically-focused ones that have been the choice du jour for years, which says a lot about the kind of workplace that Apple is trying to create.

Perhaps it’s all of the battery replacements that Apple Stores are doing these days, but last week there were two reported cases of fires in two days at Apple Stores. The first happened in a store in Switzerland, and the second was at a Spanish Apple Store. Batteries are dangerous when improperly treated, people.

Apple is leasing some new office space in Culver City, California, following a withdrawal from HBO, who originally intended to occupy the space. Variety says the four-story project hasn’t been completed yet, but is scheduled to open in late 2019.

With the announcement of Transmit making an exit from the iOS scene, MacStories takes a look at what can fulfil the role of a replacement FTP client on the iPad. There’s a few different options out there, including Panic’s own Coda, and while none do exactly the same things as Transmit does, each seemingly prioritising different aspects of FTP. None look as good as Transmit did, either.

A major update for Office 2016 for the Mac brings real-time collaborative editing to documents, allowing other people to make changes simultaneously. Automatic document saving and more efficient document opening is also a big plus.