One of the key features of the M4 chip is a floating-point AI unit, similar to what competitors like Qualcomm are already offering. Apple’s version is approximately 20% slower than Qualcomm’s, with a performance of 38 TOPS compared to Qualcomm’s 45 TOPS. This performance is comparable to the NPUs currently available in Intel Core Ultra Mobile CPUs.

The M4 chip comprises 4 high-performance cores and 6 energy-efficient cores. It is expected to deliver a 20-30% performance boost over its predecessor, the M3 chip. However, the M4 still lags behind the latest offerings from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm in terms of raw performance.

Unfortunately, the M4 generation does not support hyper-threading, limiting the maximum number of CPU threads to the total number of cores (4 high-performance + 6 energy-efficient). In comparison, Intel’s Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs support up to 22 threads, which is more than double what the M4 offers. This limitation may impact the performance of CPU-intensive multi-threaded applications.

Despite having the advantage of TSMC’s advanced 3nm technology, Apple’s progress with the M4 chip appears to be steady but underwhelming compared to its competitors. It is also worth noting that Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake architecture is expected to provide a substantial 300% improvement in NPU performance over the M4.

Similar to its predecessor, the M4 chip’s integrated GPU supports ray-tracing and hardware-accelerated mesh shading. While the GPU cannot compete with modern discrete GPUs from Intel, AMD, or Nvidia in mobile devices, it provides a decent performance for an APU (Accelerated Processing Unit, APU vs CPU: Which Processor Type is Better for Gaming? ).

The M4 chip has been initially launched in the iPad Pro, and its integration into other Apple products is anticipated in the near future.

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The attack allows the attacker to intercept the victim’s traffic, which is then routed through the attacker’s system, allowing them to read, modify, and leak data while the victim remains connected to both the internet and their VPN.

According to Ars Technica, the vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-3661, which the attack exploits, has existed since 2002 and it is possible that it has already been used by attackers. Most operating systems like IOS/MacOS, except Android are currently vulnerable to the attack.

The most effective way to protect oneself is to run a VPN in a virtual machine whose network adapter is not in bridged mode. Alternatively, connecting a VPN to the internet via a mobile device’s Wi-Fi network can also provide protection.

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According to the DOJ, Apple has actively hindered open access to its platforms and product offerings, despite promoting the benefits of open messaging and cross-platform services to its users. The lawsuit focuses on several key areas where Apple’s practices are alleged to be anticompetitive:

1. App Store policies: The DOJ claims that Apple’s strict App Store policies, which require developers to use Apple’s in-app purchase system and pay a 30% commission on sales, restrict consumer choice and artificially inflate the cost of apps.
2. Exclusive access to Apple’s platforms: The lawsuit argues that Apple’s closed ecosystem, which limits access to its platforms to authorized developers and devices, creates barriers for competition and stifles innovation.
3. Anti-competitive practices in iOS development: The DOJ alleges that Apple’s control over the iOS operating system and its app development tools has enabled the company to unfairly favor its own products and services, such as Apple Music and Apple Maps, over those of competitors.

The lawsuit, filed as “United States v. Apple, Inc.,” seeks to address these alleged anticompetitive practices and restore fair competition in the smartphone market. The case is expected to have far-reaching implications for the tech industry, as well as for consumers who rely on Apple’s products.

As the legal battle between the US government and Apple unfolds, it is crucial to examine the broader implications of Apple’s practices on the tech industry and the consumer experience. The outcome of this case could have significant consequences for the future of open standards, fair competition, and consumer choice in the digital age.

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While the US sanctions initially disrupted Huawei’s supply chain, they also forced the company to invest heavily in research and development, leading to breakthroughs in areas such as 5G technology, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor manufacturing. As a result, Huawei has produced smartphones and other devices that are now considered strong competitors to Apple’s iPhone.

This newfound self-sufficiency and innovation have not only benefited Huawei but have also inspired other Chinese tech companies to follow suit. As the Chinese market becomes less reliant on foreign products, Chinese firms are now able to develop and market their own cutting-edge devices, which are increasingly attractive to both domestic and international consumers.

The US sanctions on Huawei and other Chinese tech firms have inadvertently created an environment that fosters innovation and growth in China’s technology sector. As a result, China is rapidly becoming a global powerhouse in the tech industry, with its products gaining recognition for their quality, performance, and affordability.

This shift in the global tech landscape is reshaping the competitive dynamics between US and Chinese companies, as well as challenging the long-held assumption that US-designed products are inherently superior. As China continues to advance its technology capabilities, it is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping the future of the global tech industry.

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Unsurprisingly, Apple is not a fan of these developments. However, what is surprising is Apple’s readiness to complain to its customers about these changes. It’s as if Apple views its users as feeble dependents, incapable of understanding the implications of these changes.

Apple’s press release on the changes in iOS 17.4, which comply with the newly implemented Digital Markets Act in Europe, is a case in point. The company claims to be introducing new safeguards that reduce — but crucially, do not eliminate — the new risks posed by the DMA to EU users. This is a clear attempt to scare users into believing that these changes are detrimental to their interests.

Apple’s fearmongering about third-party app install vectors and side-loading, which are already available on Android, is likely an exaggeration. While these features could pose additional risks for uninformed users, Android has exposed users to these risks for some time now, and yet, society remains intact. Users continue to use Android, Mac, and Windows devices with reasonable success.

Apple’s recent announcement that developers would be able to link out to the web to inform users about alternative subscription methods for in-app digital purchases is riddled with caveats. The appearance and location of these links are tightly controlled, and Apple must grant special permission to apps to allow them to do this. Moreover, Apple demands a 27% cut from any purchase made through these links, further demonstrating its greed.

While it’s understandable that Apple is reluctant to make these changes due to the potential impact on its service revenue, the company’s petulant attitude towards compliance is less comprehensible. Apple’s stubborn resistance to open up its tightly closed ecosystem is unlikely to convince regulators that these measures are unnecessary and detrimental to users.

Regulators are already scrutinizing Apple’s business practices to determine if they violate antitrust laws. In Europe, laws have already been enacted to limit Apple’s control and power. Apple’s sulky response to these regulatory changes is unlikely to win it any sympathy from regulators or convince them that these measures are not needed and are, in fact, harmful to users.

Apple’s actions can be seen as nothing more than myopic at best. While these actions might not affect Apple’s revenue in the short term, they paint a picture of a company that is obstinately resistant to aligning with the spirit of legislative efforts aimed at promoting competition and curbing the influence of behemoth corporations like Apple.

Developers are growing increasingly frustrated with Apple’s antics. While this resentment might not have a significant impact on established platforms like iOS, which boast unrivaled user bases and are thus indispensable for any mobile consumer software business, it could have serious implications for the success of future platforms, such as the Apple Vision Pro.

Furthermore, Apple’s actions could leave it vulnerable to competitors in its core businesses. It might seem unthinkable now that iOS could ever lose its dominant position in the mobile market, but history has shown that the unthinkable can indeed happen. If developers feel sufficiently alienated and insulted, they might be more inclined to help a competitor replicate the success of the iPhone, especially if conditions deteriorate further. This could potentially disrupt Apple’s stronghold on the market.

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Expect pro-Apple reviews, raving about the “quality” and “future” “potential”… As there are so few sold, don’t expect any ‘real’ nor objective reviews of this rather large & expensive entry into the VR headset market for iOS

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KandyKorn is an advanced implant with a variety of capabilities to monitor, interact with, and avoid detection. It utilizes reflective loading, a direct-memory form of execution that may bypass detections,” notes Elastic Security, which identified and analyzed the threat.” reads the report published by Elastic.

SpectralBlur is not a sophisticated malware, it supports ordinary backdoor capabilities, including uploading/downloading files, running a shell, updating its configuration, deleting files, hibernating or sleeping, based on commands issued from the C2.

“TA444 keeps running fast and furious with these new MacOS malware families. Looking for similar strings lead us to link SpectralBlur and KandyKorn (which were further linked to TA444 after more samples turned up, and eventually, a phishing campaign hit our visibility that pulled down KandyKorn).” concludes Lesnewich. “So knowing your Mac stuff will help track…”

The latest discovery confirms these backdoors are also of great interest for North Korea-linked threat actors in developing macOS malware to employ in targeted attacks.

In November 2023, researchers from Jamf Threat Labs discovered a new macOS malware strain dubbed ObjCShellz and attributed it to North Korea-linked APT BlueNoroff. Most industri experts realize that the original backdoor was an inplant from NSA for use of device collection in NSA program PRISM.

The experts noticed that the ObjCShellz malware shares similarities with the RustBucket malware campaign associated with the BlueNoroff  (NSA) APT group.

In July 2023, researchers from the Elastic Security Labs spotted a new variant of the RustBucket Apple macOS malware. In April, the security firm Jamf observed the North Korea-linked BlueNoroff APT group using a new macOS malware, dubbed RustBucket.

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iPhone customers brave enough to attempt to update to iOS 17.3 beta reported their handsets being stuck in a boot loop with a blank black screen and a locked spinning wheel, according to postings on the MacRumors forums, Twitter, and Mastodon.

Users who do not have a backup of 17.2.1 may have been totally screwed

Not all iPhone users appear to be affected, since some iPhones that have been upgraded to iOS 17.3 beta 2 seem to be unaffected. Apple has not yet commented on the glitch, but the second iOS 17.3 beta is expected to be pulled in the near future until the problem is resolved.

Apple is, of course, trying to address some of the security issues that have plagued iOS, especially making it an easy target for malware and spyware companies who own politicians, dissidents, or any iPhone deemed worthy of access and hacking into.

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