Apple : Apple device sales projected to shut out Windows for the first time

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Apple device sales projected to shut out Windows for the first time Posted: Apple has always had a leg-up in the "cool factor" over Microsoft, but its devices may also finally outsell Windows hardware in 2013, according to a market research group this week. Devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac will result in more sales than Windows PCs, tablets, and smartphone, according to analysis by Gartner picked up by The Financial Times. This is significant because Windows PCs have long-dominated Apple's market share. However, it's not all that surprising given consumers' trend away from buying PCs in favor of purchasing smaller devices like smartphones and tablets. Apple vs Microsoft sales in 2013 Apple's Mac and iDevice sales totaled 159 million in 2012, with hardware running Microsoft's Windows operating system slightly ahead at 175 million. For 2013, Apple's sales forecast is currently at 233 million, according to Gartner, with Microsoft reaching 181 million, but losing its lead over its long-time rival. "If consumers don't buy [Windows], developers aren't interested in it," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi to the Times. "Microsoft needs to win in the consumer space if they want to remain relevant." Microsoft's game plan The good news for Microsoft is that it saw this trend coming before these forecasts were released - though perhaps a little too late. The company went so far as to release its own tablet, the Surface, and it's rumored to be developing a Surface smartphone, possibly one that runs its Windows Phone 8 mobile OS. Microsoft isn't the only company struggling in this PC-turned-mobile world, as other computer manufacturers are complaining about the slow sales of Windows-based products. Samsung, for example, called Windows 8 no better than the much-maligned Vista operating system. Likewise, Fujitsu referred to W8 demand as "weak," and blamed its poor sales on the OS. Whether or not sales of Microsoft-branded devices reverse Apple's rising trend remains to be seen. At the same time, it's just as unclear if Apple can maintain its level of cool now that it's no longer the underdog.

iMessages encrypted so well it even thwarts law enforcement Posted: Blue ice meth isn't the only problem for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, as Apple's blue iMessages service is the latest concoction that is thwarting the law enforcement agency's ability to spy on suspected drug dealers. The DEA warned that iMessages' encryption made "it is impossible to intercept iMessages between two Apple devices," according to an internal document seen by CNET. "The DEA San Jose Resident Office learned that text messages sent via iMessages between Apple products are not captured by pen register, trap and trace devices, or Title III interceptions." This eavesdrop-block happens even if the DEA has obtained a court-ordered warrant by a federal judge and regardless of the carrier. Dangerous gap Apple boldly claimed to provide "a secure end-to-end encryption" when it launched iMessage in 2011, according CNET, and it's living up to that promise. However, situations like this have become a concern for top U.S. officials, including FBI director Robert Mueller. "There is a growing and dangerous gap between law enforcement's legal authority to conduct electronic surveillance, and its actual ability to conduct such surveillance," said Mueller to a U.S. House of Representatives committee two weeks ago. "We must ensure that the laws by which we operate and which provide protection to individual privacy rights keep pace with new threats and new technology." All a DEA ruse? The FBI memo could be a ruse to trick drug dealers into thinking that Apple's prevalent iMessages service is more secure than it really is, theorizes the Cato Institute's Julian Sanchez. He comes to this out-of-the-box conclusion in part because Apple's iCloud service still holds the keys to unlock iMessaging data for law enforcement, even if the device is locked-up. "Messages may not be interceptable from a suspect's cell carrier, but Apple has to be capable of handing them over when the authorities come knocking with a warrant," he said in a comment picked up by Forbes. "All Apple has to do is provide the cops with an appropriate authentication token and they should, in principle, be able to turn an ordinary iPhone into a de facto clone of the suspect's own device." Since that hasn't been proven to be true, at least according to law enforcement officials, Apple can continue to claim that iMessages is between you, your recipients, and not the DEA.

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