Apple Implements Tougher Security Guidelines at Factories to Prevent Leaks

[danielsutton]

I'm sure in certain instances companies would want to release a roadmap. For example, Microsoft, would release it's roadmap so it's customers could plan accordingly. But there isn't any real danger of competitors (what competitors) bring features aboard and having customers deciding to buy other operating systems or comparable products.

Maybe in that same vein, Oracle, might release a roadmap.

Even car companies might release general statements, such as in 2025 50% of the fleet will be electric vehicles. But car companies guard the next years release, especially the high-end luxury models. In the same vein, it doesn't really seem like product oriented companies, release a roadmap. Those companies where potential customers can compare product a from one manufacturer vs. product b from another, seem to value and guard their corporate information closely.

The smartphone market is one where a competitor can use a roadmap to their benefit to steal customers away, so I just don't see that being anything that would come to pass. It's a cat and mouse and I don't see Apple giving away much if any hints about future products, and for good reason.

If Apple wants to beat the leakers, they can make this information less valuable to leakers by

If Apple wants to beat the leakers, they can make this information less valuable to leakers by disclosing their road map as many other technology companies do, and let us know what to expect. Apple may not be able to run after and catch every leaker that comes down the pike, but if they make this sort of information less valuable to leakers, then this will achieve a similar result. I do not support or condone the stealing and peddling of privileged or otherwise proprietary information. I want to make that very clear.

This is in a similar vein to when Apple was facing the challenge of fake Apple Stores and fake Apple products in certain markets. By opening real Apple Stores and selling real Apple products, the company can help to defeat these fake places and establish themselves in those markets. Again, I do not support or condone the marketing and sale of fake products in any way, I am simply stating that Apple can defeat this problem by selling its own real and legitimate products in those markets. Apple can do the same thing to defeat leaks by making leaks less valuable; they can tell us themselves about the general direction of products in the pipeline.

Yes, companies do tend to want to keep their future products somewhat secret, but it seems like Apple goes far beyond what most other companies do. I can very much

I'm sure in certain instances companies would want to release a roadmap. For example, Microsoft, would release it's roadmap so it's customers could plan accordingly. But there isn't any real danger of competitors (what competitors) bring features aboard and having customers deciding to buy other operating systems or comparable products.

Maybe in that same vein, Oracle, might release a roadmap.

Even car companies might release general statements, such as in 2025 50% of the fleet will be electric vehicles. But car companies guard the next years release, especially the high-end luxury models. In the same vein, it doesn't really seem like product oriented companies, release a roadmap. Those companies where potential customers can compare product a from one manufacturer vs. product b from another, seem to value and guard their corporate information closely.

The smartphone market is one where a competitor can use a roadmap to their benefit to steal customers away, so I just don't see that being anything that would come to pass. It's a cat and mouse and I don't see Apple giving away much if any hints about future products, and for good reason.

When I first began using computers when I was a young child in the 1980s, I had an Apple IIe and then an Apple IIGS. Then, for many years, I found myself in the PC world. Several years ago, I found my way back to the Mac!

When I was using PCs, I read many industry magazines and publications, and enjoyed reading about not only current technology, but also future plans and products. Companies often touted their products and wanted to share future plans with customers to keep them interested and keep them within the ecosystem. It made it much easier for me to buy their products because I knew what to expect, and could become excited with anticipation about what new technology would be released.

When I came back to the Apple ecosystem, I noticed that Apple would not share future plans and products, and even when I went to Apple Stores, the salespeople and Geniuses at the Genius Bar would not be as willing to discuss the future as PC salespeople and techs were at the stores and places that sold PCs and PC software.

Apple is much more secretive than many other companies, and I believe that this hurts them. I appreciate Apple very much, and I will continue buying Apple products, but it makes it harder for me to buy products when I don't know much about what I am buying. When I can read into the future and anticipate what is coming out, I can much more easily and more comfortably go to an Apple Store and buy something.

 

[I7guy]

I don’t see Apple not being any less secretive than they are today. Even if they know it may hurt current sales. But it’s a good thought.

 

[ksec]

I don't understand why Apple has not anything about Ming-Chi Kuo, he is one of the top leakers. He should be behind bars for industrial espionage.

Because there is nothing Apple can do.

It is much easier in the old days of iPhone. You are talking about 10M iPhone per quarter at launch. Now Apple ship ~80M. You cant hide any of these information from anyone. Even for those of us that dont have supply chain connection know where to look just at investor meeting and notes. Let alone those that do.

Even AirPod and Apple Watch, what "used" to be the testing ground for Apple's future tech ( OLED, Battery packaging, IP Test etc ) are now in moderately large volume.

And its funny Apple discontinued product they thought were not selling in volume such as HomePod. Which means it is a game Apple can never win.

 

[alien3dx]

"accusations of a double standard."

Well, it might very well be since the person who hires is different than the person hired. The answer is: if you don't like it, work somewhere else. It is really an issue for Apple to insist on tight security for the manufacturers of their products? One wouldn't think so.

As an aside, I am surprised that the (so-called by some in China) baizuo who are implementing this haven't been called racist, xenophobic, and perhaps sexist by the critics yet.

Don't forget the reason why car manufacturer don't entertain apple.

 

[The Game 161]

Now where’s the fun in that Apple...