Samsung hasn’t decided to file an amicus brief in Apple’s support against FBI

Samsung hasn’t said anything yet if they plan to support Apple with its ongoing battle with the FBI. But their recent statement makes it seem like they’re siding with Apple, without mentioning them specifically. In a statement released by Samsung, "Ensuring trust in our products and services is our top priority. Our phones are embedded with encryption that protects privacy and content, and they do not have backdoors. When required to do so, and within the law, we work with law enforcement agencies. However, any requirement to create a backdoor could undermine consumers' trust."

Apple is currently in a legal fight with the FBI over getting access to an encrypted iPhone by one of the suspects from the San Bernardino shooting. FBI wants Apple to unlock said smartphone but Apple believes this could lead to a bigger security issue. Other tech brands have been coming out to support Apple with this issue.

Source: Android Central

March 21 tipped as new date for Apple's product event

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

It seems that the earlier date of March 15 for the March Apple product event has been moved a week later to March 21st. Expected to be Apple's first product event for the year and which could focus on a smaller 4-inch iPhone (dubbed iPhone SE), the first glimpse of a new Apple Watch and the reveal of the iPad Air 3.

Recode's Kara Swisher broke the news while BuzzFeed's John Paczkowski,  who is usually dead on with these event date leaks, corroborated the information while adding that March 21 is a day before Apple has to face the FBI in a hearing regarding the iPhone unlocking issue that has divided a lot of people. The Loop Insight's Jim Darymple chimed in agreement on the March 21 date which all but confirms this event unless something else happens. Last year, Apple's "Spring Forward" event in March 9 showed off more information on Apple Watch plus saw the announcement of the new MacBook.

It's been a while since Apple's had a product event, the last one was the epic 'Hey Siri' event last September, which piled on a number of products including new iPhone 6S, the iPad Pro and Apple TV plus an assortment of new Apple bands and the Hermes edition Apple Watch.

This March event is expected to be way smaller and might be held at Town Hall in the Cupertino campus, this is understandable given that Apple and its key executives have a very high profile hearing to attend to the next day.

Source: Recode, BuzzFeed, The Loop Insight

Apple gets support from likes of Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook against FBI in court

A legal alliance has emerged in Silicon Valley following the ongoing battle between Apple and the FBI. Microsoft will be filing a “friend of the court” brief next week to support Apple’s challenge to the Justice Department. Some of the other companies who will be doing the same include Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook and reportedly Google as well as Box. Other groups and companies who are also considering backing Apple include the Internet Association trade group as well as Slack. The deadline to file the brief is on March 3. And Apple executives are expecting a lot of support from the tech companies and privacy groups who have taken immense interest in the outcome of this case.

Source: BuzzFeed News

DoJ files a motion to force Apple to comply with FBI iPhone backdoor request

In response to Apple's denial to allow a backdoor access on an iPhone used in a terrorist attack in San Bernandino, the US Department of Justice has filed a motion to compel Apple to create firmware that would allow the FBI to brute force access into iPhones. Apple has three days to reply to the order.

Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a public letter this week to Apple's website explaining why creating a backdoor tool for the iPhone would set a dangerous precedent. Other technology CEOs, namely Google's Sundar Pichai and executives from Twitter and Facebook have backed Apple's stand. Apple has stressed that it has in the passed turned over subpoenaed information under request as well as allowed its engineers and their expertise to serve as consultants to various government and security agencies, however the creation of a tool that can be used to crack the encryption of the iPhone would be a dangerous precedent.

Source: 9to5Mac