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Tag: iPhone

  • Apple Offering Onsite iPhone Repair Service

    Apple Offering Onsite iPhone Repair Service

    MacRumors is reporting that Apple is rolling out an onsite iPhone repair service in select cities.

    While Apple has provided onsite repair for enterprise customers for some time, there has not been such a service for consumers. The service is being provided through Apple Authorized Service Provider Go Tech Services and is currently being offered in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

    All scheduling is done via Apple’s website. In fact, going to Go Tech’s site will redirect back to Apple, a good indication the company is working exclusively with the iPhone maker. This will hopefully result in the same quality of repairs currently available in-store.

    MacRumors says it is still unclear what repairs can and cannot be completed, but it seems that cracked screen replacements can be performed, while battery replacements cannot. Hopefully the service will prove successful enough to eventually see wider deployment, offering customers a more convenient option than traveling to a Genius Bar.

  • Apple’s Installed Base Reaches All-Time High

    Apple’s Installed Base Reaches All-Time High

    Apple posted its Q1 2020 financial results today, reporting a record revenue of $91.8 billion.

    There were a number of significant takeaways from the report, not the least of which is a return to profit growth. The company reported a 9% revenue increase from the year-ago quarter.

    Just as significant, however, is that Apple’s installed base has reached an all-time high, coming in at 1.5 million devices.

    “We are thrilled to report Apple’s highest quarterly revenue ever, fueled by strong demand for our iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models, and all-time records for Services and Wearables,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “During the holiday quarter our active installed base of devices grew in each of our geographic segments and has now reached over 1.5 billion. We see this as a powerful testament to the satisfaction, engagement and loyalty of our customers — and a great driver of our growth across the board.”

    According to AppleInsider, quoting Tim Cook, this represents an increase of over 100 million devices in the last 12 months. With Apple known for benefiting from a ‘halo effect,’ where users who purchase one device end up buying others because of their good experience, 100 million new devices is sure to have an impact on business down the line.

  • Foxconn Foresees No Impact From Coronavirus

    Foxconn Foresees No Impact From Coronavirus

    The Verge is reporting that Taiwanese company Foxconn will not be adjusting manufacturing schedules or closing factories as China struggles with the coronavirus outbreak.

    Foxconn manufactures electronics for numerous companies and is probably most well-known for manufacturing Apple’s iPhones. The company operates several factories on the Chinese mainland. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, China has put as many as 15 cities in lockdown, with Wuhan—where the virus was initially identified—under virtual quarantine. Financial experts around the world are warning the virus could have serious consequences across industries.

    In spite of the dire circumstances, however, Foxconn does not foresee any impact to its manufacturing.

    “Foxconn is closely monitoring the current public health challenge linked to the coronavirus and we are applying all recommended health and hygiene practices to all aspects of our operations in the affected markets. Our facilities in China are following holiday schedules and will continue to do so until all businesses have resumed standard operating hours,” the company said in a statement, according to The Verge.

    “As a matter of policy and for reasons of commercial sensitivity, we do not comment on our specific production practices,” the company continues, “but we can confirm that we have measures in place to ensure that we can continue to meet all global manufacturing obligations.”

    It remains to be seen the impact the virus will have on business and world economies, but Foxconn’s statement should help reassure at least some sectors.

  • EU May Force Apple To Ditch The Lightning Connector

    EU May Force Apple To Ditch The Lightning Connector

    Anyone who has an entire box or drawer of discarded phone charging cables knows the frustration of multiple types of chargers and connectors. Evidently, European Union (EU) regulators feel the same way, as they are pushing for a universal mobile charger, according to ABC News.

    The move would especially impact Apple, given that it uses its proprietary Lightning connector for iPhones and some iPads. According to a statement issued by members of the European Parliament, previous attempts to encourage device makers to unify behind a standard were unsuccessful, leading to a mandatory solution being considered.

    “The Commission’s approach of ‘encouraging’ industry to develop common chargers fell short of the co-legislators’ objectives,” the statement reads. “The voluntary agreements between different industry players have not yielded the desired results.

    “A common charger should fit all mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers and other portable devices, MEPs will insist.

    “The debate on Monday will be wound up by a resolution in a forthcoming plenary session.

    “According to estimates, old chargers generate more than 51 000 tonnes of electronic waste per year.”

    Needless to say, Apple is not happy with prospect of being forced to eliminate the Lightning connector from its devices.

    “Regulations that would drive conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones freeze innovation rather than encourage it,” the company argued, according to ABC News. “Such proposals are bad for the environment and unnecessarily disruptive for customers.”

    “We want to ensure that any new legislation will not result in the shipment of any unnecessary cables or external adaptors with every device, or render obsolete the devices and accessories used by many millions of Europeans and hundreds of millions of Apple customers worldwide. This would result in an unprecedented volume of electronic waste and greatly inconvenience users,” added Apple.

    While unification behind a single standard would be welcome, Apple does have a point that arbitrarily doing so would orphan countless existing devices, cables and peripherals, making them obsolete and incompatible with future devices.

  • Microsoft Expects ‘Halo Effect’ From Winning Pentagon JEDI Contract

    Microsoft Expects ‘Halo Effect’ From Winning Pentagon JEDI Contract

    Fresh off of winning the Pentagon’s $10 billion JEDI contract, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company is expecting a “halo effect,” according to Yahoo Finance’s Brian Sozzi.

    “Halo effect” was a term used frequently in regard to Apple products, starting with the iPod. If customers liked the iPod enough, and were impressed with the Apple experience, it might entice them to purchase a Mac. That halo effect has since expanded to iPhones, iPads and Watches. Microsoft is now in a position to generate a halo effect of its own in the cloud market.

    While Windows may be the dominant player in the desktop market, it’s a distant second in the cloud arena, with 15.5% compared with AWS’ 47.8% market share. A significant deal—not to mention Microsoft’s recent Impact Level 6 Pentagon security certification—could entice other government agencies to invest in the software giant for their cloud needs, creating an ever-expanding halo effect. Nadella believes the JEDI contract could do just that, but also emphasized the need to stay grounded and not become overly confident.

    “Any big deal has a halo effect,” Nadella told Sozzi in an exclusive interview. “But to me, the most important thing is not to take any deal you won as some guarantee for future success but to stay humble, stay grounded on what we need to continue to do, which is be obsessed about customer needs. That’s what got us here.”

  • Analyst: All iPhone 5G Models Expected In 2020

    Analyst: All iPhone 5G Models Expected In 2020

    Contradicting previous reports, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to release all four 5G iPhones in the second half of 2020, according to MacRumors.

    Previous reports by Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini claimed Apple would stagger its iPhone releases and only release the low-band 5G models in 2020, with the mmWave models in 2021. Low-band 5G is only 20% to four times faster than 4G LTE, but has excellent range. mmWave 5G, on the other hand, offers gigabit speeds, but has very short range. Hosseini’s prediction was based on Apple’s decision to use an in-house antenna-in-package (AiP) rather than a third-party component.

    According to MacRumors, however, Kuo believes Apple will release both types of 5G iPhones in the second half of 2020. The mmWave models “would be available in five markets, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom, adding that Apple may disable 5G functionality in countries that do not offer 5G service or have a shallow 5G penetration rate to reduce production costs.”

    As MacRumors points out, Kuo has a better track record predicting Apple’s moves, so this looks to be good news for iPhone fans.

  • Apple May Delay mmWave 5G Phones Till 2021, Ship Only Low-Band In 2020

    Apple May Delay mmWave 5G Phones Till 2021, Ship Only Low-Band In 2020

    According to a new report, Apple may not release mmWave 5G iPhones until December 2020/January 2021.

    As 5G continues to roll out, carriers are deploying two types of 5G. Low-band 5G offers speeds anywhere from 20 percent to four times faster than 4G LTE, but has excellent building penetration and range. mmWave 5G, on the other hand, has speed measured in gigabits instead of megabits, but has extremely poor range and penetration.

    Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini believes Apple will stagger its 5G iPhone launch, debuting the low-band models first, with the the faster 5G models at the beginning of 2021. According to Hosseini, the reason is at least partly due to Apple’s decision to design and use its own antenna-in-package (AiP) instead of using a third-party component.

    If the report is accurate, it represents further efforts on Apple’s part to bring more of the iPhone’s components in-house. Recent reports project Apple will try to use its own modems as early as 2022. The company bought Intel’s 5G modem business after Intel was forced to abandon the effort as a result of what it described as anticompetitive behavior on the part of Qualcomm. Apple has been trying to end its reliance on Qualcomm, and it now appears they are trying to end their dependence on third parties for AiP components.

  • iOS Support Coming To Dell Mobile Connect

    iOS Support Coming To Dell Mobile Connect

    Dell is going to great lengths to appeal to iPhone users, with plans to expand its Mobile Connect options to iOS.

    Dell Mobile Connect brings some of the functionality Mac users take for granted to Dell’s ecosystem. It “provides a seamless wireless integration between smartphones and PCs, allowing users to make calls, send texts and get notifications on your PC.”

    Dell’s site touts the further benefits: “Avoid splitting your attention between your PC and smartphone while working, studying or playing a game. You will be notified about your phone calls, texts, instant messages, and all other 3rd party app notifications right from your PC screen. You control which specific app you would like to receive notifications from on your PC.”

    The software has worked with Android for some time, but this will be the first time it has been available for iOS. According to Dell, the Mobile Connect will be available for iOS in Spring 2020.

    Given the popularly of both Dell and iOS devices in the corporate environment, this should be welcome addition to many customers of both companies.

  • Apple May Ditch The Notch On The Next iPhone

    Apple May Ditch The Notch On The Next iPhone

    Love it or hate it, the iPhone’s notch has been one of its most recognizable features. BGR, reporting on a discovery by the Dutch-language site LetsGoDigital, says Apple may eliminate the notch in 2020.

    According to the report, LetsGoDigital discovered a number of patents Apple filed with the Japanese Patent Office on December 23, 2019. The drawings that accompany the photos show an iPhone with no notch, and near edge-to-edge glass.

    Image Source: Apple via LetsGoDigital
    Image Source: Apple via LetsGoDigital

    As BGR points out, the notched area currently houses the Face ID components, as well as the selfie camera. The photos would seem to indicate the technology has progressed enough that these components can reside under the screen and still function properly. It’s also possible Apple could use in-screen Touch ID, either on specific models, or in conjunction with Face ID.

    Much of the other design elements remain the same, or have only small changes. The one exception is the screen corners, which the drawing shows as rectangular, rather than the rounded corners iPhones currently have.

  • iPhone Emergency SOS Feature Saves Woman From Sexual Assault

    iPhone Emergency SOS Feature Saves Woman From Sexual Assault

    Smartphones take a lot of flak for consuming too much time, causing eye strain, contributing to traffic accidents and more. At least one woman, however, is crediting her iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature with saving her from sexual assault.

    According to Norfolk, Virginia’s WTKR News, a woman—who wishes to remain anonymous—was attacked in Virginia Beach when a man approached her asking for help finding his lost phone. The man claimed to be in the military and she let him use her iPhone’s “Find My Phone” app to locate his.

    She began to suspect something was amiss when the man didn’t seem to know how to use her iPhone. When she tried to leave, he attacked her. In the midst of the attack, the woman activated Emergency SOS, which automatically dials 911.

    Emergency SOS can be activated by quickly pressing the power button five times, or by holding the power and volume button simultaneously. The woman used the latter method, and the 911 dispatcher listened to what was happening and dispatched the police.

    As WTKR highlights, this “only works if the Emergency SOS feature is turned on in the phone’s settings.” This woman’s experience should be a good reminder to check those settings and enable Emergency SOS.

  • Apple and Sharp In Talks to Purchase Japan Display Factory

    Apple and Sharp In Talks to Purchase Japan Display Factory

    Apple and Sharp are in talks to purchase Japan Display’s “main Hakusan factory in Ishikawa Prefecture,” according to Nikkei.

    As Apple has increasingly switched iPhones to OLED screens, instead of LCD panels, Japan Display (JDI) has struggled due to poor sales. Apple recently led a round of backers in giving JDI a $368 million relief package in an effort to prop up the company.

    According to Nikkei, in mid-December, Apple was likely in talks to purchase the equipment from the factory, but that appears to have shifted to purchasing the entire facility and grounds.

    It’s unclear what role Sharp will play, but the two companies “are still considering how to share stakes in the facility.” Since Apple paid for nearly half the cost of building the factory before it came online in 2016, this deal probably represents the best chance for Apple to recoup its investment.

  • Analyst Predicts 5G iPhone Will Lead to a 2020 ‘Supercycle’ For Apple

    Analyst Predicts 5G iPhone Will Lead to a 2020 ‘Supercycle’ For Apple

    With Apple expected to release four 5G iPhones in 2020, at least one analyst is expecting it to be a “supercycle” for the company’s stock.

    Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told CNBC he believes the demand for 5G iPhones will have a significant impact on the stock price. As a result, Ives raised his target for Apple’s stock to $350, a significant increase over the $284 closing price Monday.

    As CNBC points out, recent Piper Jaffray research shows an increasing level of interest in upgrading to a 5G iPhone, with nearly a quarter of iPhone owners willing to upgrade to a $1,200 model.

    With interest that high, it’s little wonder some reports predict Apple will sell 80 million units in 2020, with at least one source placing that number as high as 100 million. Similarly, Strategy Analytics predicts Apple will easily take the 5G crown in 2020, leap-frogging the competition to take the top spot.

    Even so, not all analysts share Ives’ bullish outlook. Gene Munster, Loup Ventures managing partner, told CNBC that the first year of 5G iPhones would be a “disappointment for investors,” blaming poor coverage on the part of the carriers.

    With such different viewpoints in play, 2020 is shaping up to be a fascinating year for Apple and their 5G plans.

  • Incognito Mode Comes to Google Maps For iOS

    Incognito Mode Comes to Google Maps For iOS

    Google has brought Incognito Mode to Google Maps for iOS, according to an announcement on the company’s website.

    According to the blog post, when Google Maps is in Incognito Mode, “the places you search for or navigate to won’t be saved to your Google Account and you won’t see personalized features within Maps, like restaurant recommendations based on dining spots you’ve been to previously. Using Incognito mode on your phone will not update your Location History, so the places you go won’t be saved to your Timeline.”

    Google has been working to address concerns about how it handles users’ private data, unveiling new ways for customers to interact with their data and manage what is stored. Incognito Mode is another step in the right direction, allowing individuals to keep their travels private.

  • Use Apple Card to Buy An iPhone With Zero Interest

    Use Apple Card to Buy An iPhone With Zero Interest

    Earlier this year, Apple unveiled the Apple Card, a credit card issued in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Today, the company took the next logical step, announcing that Apple Card can now be used to purchase an iPhone interest-free for 24 months.

    According to Apple’s website, “just choose your new iPhone and then select Apple Card Monthly Installments as your payment option in the Apple Store app or online at apple.com. If you don’t have Apple Card, you can easily apply when you check out on your iPhone. Or you can visit an Apple Store and a Specialist can help you purchase an iPhone with Apple Card Monthly Installments. You can also apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone before you go shopping for your next iPhone.”

    The iPhone’s purchase price will be decided into 24 monthly payments, paid via Apple Card Monthly Installments. The Monthly Installments can be monitored and maintained in the Wallet app.

    The new option is similar to that offered by many carriers, with the cost of the phone split into interest-free payments across 24 months. One advantage of using the Apple Card, however, is that the purchase earns 3 percent Daily Cash. Apple makes a point of highlighting that users don’t have to wait the full two years to get the Daily Cash. Instead, it is immediately added to Wallet.

    This promotion is just the latest example of why tech companies are increasingly moving into the finance market, and the integration benefits that come from doing so.

  • Apple Explains iPhone 11 Frequent Location Checking

    Apple Explains iPhone 11 Frequent Location Checking

    Apple has finally explained behavior that lead some to believe new iPhones or iOS 13.x had a privacy bug.

    Security researcher Brian Krebs discovered that the iPhone 11 Pro “intermittently seeks the user’s location information even when all applications and system services on the phone are individually set to never request this data.” He originally contacted Apple on November 13 to report the problem.

    Earlier this week, Apple responded to Krebs by simply saying: “It is expected behavior that the Location Services icon appears in the status bar when Location Services is enabled. The icon appears for system services that do not have a switch in Settings.”

    Needless to say, this vague response is not what people want to hear from a company that has planted its flag on respecting user privacy. Fortunately, Apple has since issued a statement to KrebsOnSecurity, along other venues, providing more information.

    “Ultra Wideband technology is an industry standard technology and is subject to international regulatory requirements that require it to be turned off in certain locations. iOS uses Location Services to help determine if iPhone is in these prohibited locations in order to disable Ultra Wideband and comply with regulations. The management of Ultrawide Band compliance and its use of location data is done entirely on the device and Apple is not collecting user location data.”

    Ultra Wideband is used by AirDrop to enable users to share files from one iPhone to another. The technology gives iPhones “spatial awareness.” This is what makes it possible for users to “share a file with someone using AirDrop simply by pointing at another user’s iPhone.”

    While Apple does plan on allowing users to turn the feature off in the future, it is unknown when this will happen, especially since it involves working with government regulation.

    In any event it’s reassuring to know there is no breach of privacy in play. However, Apple could have saved itself—and its customers—a lot of headache by being more transparent in its initial response or, better yet, by documenting the feature before it became a concern.

  • Apple Could Move to Two iPhone Releases a Year; Four iPhones Expected in 2020

    Apple Could Move to Two iPhone Releases a Year; Four iPhones Expected in 2020

    According to CNBC, analysts at J.P. Morgan believe Apple could be switching up its iPhone release schedule, releasing new models twice a year instead of once.

    Since 2011, Apple has traditionally released iPhones either in September or October. As the market has become increasingly more competitive, however, an entire year between major releases has allowed competitors to leapfrog the iPhone’s features.

    In a note to investors, J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee cites supply chain checks as the basis for their prediction.

    “Based on our supply chain checks, we are expecting a strategic change in the launch cadence with the release of two new iPhone models in 1H21 followed by another two in 2H21, which will serve to smooth seasonality around the launch.”

    In the short-term, the analysts also believe there will be a total of four iPhones released in 2020, instead of the normal three. Even more significant, they believe that all four of the devices next year will have both OLED screens and 5G support, according to Chatterjee’s note.

    “The 2H20 lineup will include all OLED phones, with screen sizes of 5.4″ (one model), 6.1″ (two), and 6.7″ (one), broadening the screen size range from 5.8″ to 6.5″ in 2019. We expect the two higher end models (one 6.1″, one 6.7″) to include mmWave support, triple camera and World facing 3D sensing, while the lower-end models (one 6.1″, one 5.4″) will include support for only sub-6 GHz and dual camera (no World-facing 3D sensing).”

    J.P. Morgan has raised its 12-month price target for Apple to $296 from $290.

  • All Good Things: Jony Ive Officially Leaves Apple, Closing Out An Era

    All Good Things: Jony Ive Officially Leaves Apple, Closing Out An Era

    He made a name for himself as THE Apple design guru, bringing to life such iconic designs as the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad yet, as with all good things, Jony Ive’s time at Apple has drawn to a close.

    Ive had been with Apple since 1992 and began leading the design team in 1996. Upon Steve Jobs’ return to the company in 1997, the two began what would be one of the most creative partnerships in tech history.

    Jobs described the nature of their relationship to his biographer, Walter Isaacson:

    “If I had a spiritual partner at Apple, it’s Jony. Jony and I think up most of the products together and then pull others in and say, ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’ He gets the picture as well as the most infinitesimal details about each product. And he understands that Apple is a product company. He’s not just a designer. That’s why he works directly for me. He has more operational power than anyone else at Apple except me.”

    After Jobs died in 2011, Ive continued to be the dominant force behind Apple’s designs for several years. In June 2019, however, it was announced that Ive would be leaving the company to start his own design firm, LoveForm. The firm would continue to work with Apple, with Ive’s former employer being his new company’s primary client.

    In an indication that his departure is now complete, Ive has been removed from Apple’s leadership page, marking an end to an incredible era at Apple. Here’s to hoping the company continues to build on Ive’s brilliance long after he’s gone.

  • Apple Expects to Sell 100 Million 5G iPhones in 2020

    Apple Expects to Sell 100 Million 5G iPhones in 2020

    According to a report in DigiTimes, Apple expects to sell over 100 million 5G iPhones in 2020.

    Earlier reports said Apple was expecting to sell 80 million 5G iPhones, but DigiTimes quotes sources within the Taiwanese supply line who say Apple expects to ship 100 million. Of course, as AppleInsider highlights, DigiTimes’ track record for accurately predicting Apple’s hardware moves is decidedly mixed.

    AppleInsider also points out that Apple has not yet confirmed whether the 2020 iPhone will even have 5G, although there have been multiple rumors and peripheral data points to indicate that it likely will.

    If the rumors are true and the 2020 iPhone does include 5G, it will likely be one of the biggest upgrades of any iPhone model in years. 5G promises to be such a transformative, revolutionary step in wireless technology that customers will no doubt want to experience it on their favorite iOS device.

  • iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max Likely to Have 6GB of RAM

    iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max Likely to Have 6GB of RAM

    MacRumors is reporting that the next iPhone is likely to come with a RAM upgrade, coming in at 6GB.

    According to the rumors site, “Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates recently traveled to Asia to meet with manufacturers within Apple’s supply chain, and…they shared their expectations for 2020 iPhones based on information they gathered.”

    One of the biggest takeaways was the amount of RAM the new models are expected to have. While the base iPhone 12 is believed to maintain 4GB, the two Pro models are both expected to have 6GB. The extra RAM is useful primarily for multitasking, increasing the number of applications and their contents that can be held in memory.

    For example, many users have experienced the frustration of trying to fill out a website form in Safari, only to have all their work cleared out because they switched to another app and then back to Safari, prompting the browser to reload the page. This is a classic example of iOS running out of RAM and clearing a program’s contents as a result. With more RAM available, iOS can switch back and forth between apps without refreshing them and clearing their contents.

    The iPad made a similar leap with the 2018 Pro models. The lower-end units all had 4GB of RAM, while the 1TB model had 6GB, to help it better meet the needs of the creative professionals it was aimed at.

    With Apple similarly positioning the iPhone Pro models for creatives and professionals, it’s not surprising the high-end models are making the same transition.

  • Apple Predicted To Take 5G Crown With iPhone In 2020

    Apple Predicted To Take 5G Crown With iPhone In 2020

    Strategy Analytics is predicting that Apple will take the top spot among 5G smartphone manufacturers in 2020.

    Despite being late to the 5G field, Strategy Analytics believes Apple will leap-frog the competition, chiefly in the form of Samsung and Huawei. Apple is widely believed to be releasing multiple 5G iPhones in 2020 and Strategy Analytics believes that, as long as Apple maintains the current upgrade price, those new iPhones will quickly take the lead.

    “Currently Samsung is the undisputed market leader in 5G smartphones,” said Ville-Petteri Ukonaho, Associate Director at Strategy Analytics. “But with the two largest 5G markets in 2020, China and the USA, dominated by Huawei and Apple respectively, these two vendors are set to lead in 5G next year.”

    Ultimately, as 5G matures and becomes more widespread, Samsung is expected to retake the crown.

    “Despite the strong showing that is expected for Apple in 5G in 2020,” adds Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics. “In the longer term Samsung will regain the 5G crown. As more markets cut over to 5G, Samsung will capture the majority of that share by virtue of its dominance of the overall smartphone market and a broader portfolio of 5G devices across more price-bands.”

    Meanwhile, while Huawei will likely remain a dominant force in China, the bans and restrictions it faces in other parts of the world will limit its ability to compete effectively on the global market.

    As a result, in the short-term at least, “2020 will be Apple’s time to grab bragging rights in 5G.”

  • Facebook App Caught Activating iPhone Camera Without Permission

    Facebook App Caught Activating iPhone Camera Without Permission

    People have long suspected the Facebook app of ignoring permissions and spying on its users. Now, it would seem, a website designer has caught Facebook in the act.

    Joshua Maddox discovered the issue when transitioning between different Pages within the app. As Mr. Maddox tapped on a profile picture and then slid it down the screen, the camera could be seen plainly active in the background.

    Mr. Maddox shared a video of his experience on Twitter, an experience that has been reproduced by other users.

    “Found a @facebook #security & #privacy issue. When the app is open it actively uses the camera. I found a bug in the app that lets you see the camera open behind your feed. Note that I had the camera pointed at the carpet.”

    Mr. Maddox said he has confirmed the behavior on five different iPhones, all running 13.2.2. Notably, iPhones running iOS 12 did not display the behavior although, as Mr. Maddox points out, that doesn’t mean the app is not accessing the camera on older version of iOS. He also pointed out a legitimate concern about the degree to which the app is accessing cameras.

    “It’s how @facebook accesses your camera and microphone… This is proof that they are accessing your back camera. They may also be accessing the front camera. If they process that through a facial recognition they could see your actual reaction to posts.”

    Facebook VP Guy Rosen responded with a tweet of his own, downplaying the issue as an innocent bug.

    “We recently discovered our iOS app incorrectly launched in landscape. In fixing that last week in v246 we inadvertently introduced a bug where the app partially navigates to the camera screen when a photo is tapped. We have no evidence of photos/videos uploaded due to this.”

    Whatever the cause or reason behind this issue, it comes from a company that has long since used up any goodwill it has on the privacy front. No matter how many assurances it provides, it’s safe to say that many users will view this as an unacceptable violation of their privacy.