iOS 8.1: Text Message Forwarding

One new feature in iOS 8.1 is: Text Message Forwarding
Any text messages sent to a phone number on an iPhone will be forwarded to other iOS devices using the same Apple ID.

Go to: Settings > Messages
Enable Test Message Forwarding for other iOS devices. They have to be logged in to iCloud using the same Apple ID with the iPhone.

One thing I noticed is that at this point I cannot forward text messages to other (service-less) iPhones.

iOS 8.1: Text Message Forwarding

Tim Cook, Apple and Privacy.

Apple Privacy Message from Tim Cook

Apple CEO, Tim Cook:

A few years ago, users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you’re not the customer. You’re the product. But at Apple, we believe a great customer experience shouldn’t come at the expense of your privacy.

Our business model is very straightforward: We sell great products. We don’t build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don’t “monetize” the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don’t read your email or your messages to get information to market to you. Our software and services are designed to make our devices better. Plain and simple.

It is simple, Apple makes money by selling products instead of selling customer’s information. Apple is selling its products at a premium price, expectation of privacy is implied.

Finally, I want to be absolutely clear that we have never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services. We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will.

Apple Pay

Apple is serious about its commitment to privacy, especially with the impending launch of Apple Pay.

Apple ID Password reset site is back online

After taking down iforgot.apple.com following a serious vulnerability found earlier today. The security vulnerability allows Apple ID password to be reset with only email and birthdate. Accounts with two-step verification is not affected by this vulnerability. Apple took down its Apple ID password reset site to address the vulnerability.

Apple rolled out two-step verification for Apple ID on Thursday March 21, 2013.

iforgot.apple.com