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Tech News : Want a Payrise? Apple Boss Earned $100 Million in 2021

A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission shows that Apple CEO, Tim Cook, earned $100 million in 2021.

1,477 Times Higher Than Average

The filing showed that his pay, fuelled by stock awards, if compared to the new median pay for employees of $68,254, was 1,447 times that of the average employee at Apple.

Considerably Higher Than 2020

The filing appears to show that Mr Cook’s $98.7 million salary was so much higher than his $14.8 million in 2020 because he received $82.3 million in stock awards, $12 million for hitting Apple’s targets, and $1.4 million for air travel on top of his $3 million basic salary.

Home Working Has Boosted Demand

Apple was reported to have first become a trillion-dollar company as far back as August 2018, and in its first day of trading in 2022 became the first company to hit a $3 trillion stock market value (albeit briefly as stocks dipped at the end of the day). The company’s revenue received a considerable boost of more than 30 per cent to $365.82 billion in 2021 due to increased demand for its products thanks to the home working caused by the pandemic lockdowns.

First Since 2011

Mr Cook taking over for Steve Jobs in 2011 led to an initial 1,000 per cent stock surge, and Mr Cook has not, until last year, received restricted stock units since 2011.

Donate Wealth To Charity

Back in March 2015, Mr Cook announced that he planned to donate his $800m fortune to charity before he dies, with the money to go to many social causes, and to his nephew’s education.

Not The Richest

Tim Cook is certainly not the richest man compared if to Tesla founder Elon Musk whose fortune was boosted recently by a $ 32.6 billion rise in share price due to strong Tesla car sales in 2021 to $ 304.2 billion.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Evidence of the personal wealth and salary increases of big tech company bosses, particularly over the last 2 years, highlights the strength of the market position of their companies, the increased demand for tech/digital products and services with home working during the pandemic, and of course, obvious inequalities in society. Apple has clearly strengthened its market position during 2021 and Cook has been rewarded for his leadership through stock units, albeit for the first time since he took over. It’s difficult for many business owners to imagine the kind of remuneration figures that big tech bosses and rich-list people receive although, thankfully, it is not unusual for some to spend substantial amounts on worthy causes (Bill Gates), and it is heartening to hear that Tim Cook plans to donate so much to social causes, albeit after his death. Apple’s good profit news is a far cry from its 2020 fine for the ‘batterygate’ scandal and, with its new ‘Business Essentials’ service and ‘Self-Service Repair’ programme for iPhones beginning this year, plus the continued demand for its products, 2022 looks set to be another good year for Apple and its CEO.

News

Apple’s New ‘Business Essentials’

Apple has announced a new ‘Business Essentials’ service that enables small businesses to easily manage every employee’s iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Device Management Solution For Small Businesses

Aimed at business with up to 500 employees, Apple says that ‘Business Essentials’ has been designed to make it easy to manage every aspect of the Apple devices in the customer’s organisation as the organisation grows. Apple says this device management package for small businesses “makes managing Apple devices as easy as using them,” and that it’s “like having the big IT department, without having the big IT department.” Apple says that Business Essentials will allow a small business to easily configure, deploy, and manage Apple products from anywhere.

What Is Included With ‘Business Essentials’?

The service is described as a “complete solution” and includes help with setup, onboarding (described as being “as easy as logging in”), backup (using iCloud), security (built-in), support (24/7 with AppleCare), repairs, and updates. Apple stresses that the service will make it easy to get replacements and update devices.

There is also a new Apple Business Essentials app that employees can use to install apps assigned for work and to request support.

Collections

Within Business Essentials, ‘Collections’ enables IT personnel to configure settings and apps for individual users, groups, or devices. This means that when employees sign in to their corporate or personally owned device with their work credentials, Collections automatically pushes settings such as VPN configurations and Wi-Fi passwords. Also, Collections will install the new Apple Business Essentials app on each employee’s home screen, where they can download corporate apps assigned to them, such as Cisco Webex or Microsoft Word.

Security

Business Essentials allows IT managers to enforce critical security settings such as FileVault for full-disk encryption on Mac, and Activation Lock to protect devices that may be lost or stolen. Apple Business Essentials also ensures these can’t be turned off by mistake. For BYOD, when employees use a personal device at work, ‘User Enrolment’ creates cryptographic separation for work data, to ensure employee data remains private while company data remains secure.

Support and Repairs

Apple says businesses have the option to add fast and reliable service for employee devices with prioritised Apple Support. Also, when a business adds AppleCare+ for Business Essentials to their plan, they will receive 24/7 access to phone support, training for IT administrators and employees, and up to two device repairs per plan each year. One aspect that may be particularly appealing in the world of remote and hybrid work is that with Business Essentials, Employees can initiate repairs directly from the new Apple Business Essentials app, and an Apple-trained technician will come onsite in as little as four hours to fix their device.

When?

Business Essentials is currently only available for small businesses in the U.S. with up to 500 employees but potential users can apply to try Apple Business Essentials before its release in spring 2022 by enrolling here: https://smb.apple.com/essentials/ .

How Much?

There are three different Business Essentials plans available which can be customised to support each user with up to three devices and up to 2TB of secure storage in iCloud, starting at $2.99 per month, with optional AppleCare+ for Apple Business Essentials.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

With many different SMBs now using Apple devices for employees, and perhaps employees using their own Apple devices for work, and businesses operating remote and hybrid working practices, this sounds like a valuable service. Not only does it offer security and control, but the fact that it offers training and support and promises to be easy to set up and operate is likely to make it attractive to many businesses that are getting used to subscription-based everything, and who may not have the tech expertise in-house. It also sounds flexible enough to grow easily with businesses as they expand and change and provides a manageable way for them to move from BYOD (while ensuring data security) to IT deployed. For Apple, it is a way to get more enterprise business, learn more about its SMB customers and their needs going forward, and be immediately on hand when new devices are needed thereby retaining its customers and their loyalty.

News

Apple Introduces “Self-Service Repair”, Starting With iPhone 12 and iPhone 13

‘Right to repair’ campaigners finally had something to celebrate last week as Apple announced its “self-service repair” programme, aimed at “customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs.”

Initial Phase

Apple says that the initial phase of the programme, beginning in the US early next year, will be for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, and will focus on the most commonly serviced modules, such as the iPhone display, battery, and camera.

How Will It Work?

The programme, which Apple says is “intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices” relies firstly on the customer reviewing the Repair Manual. From here, Apple expects the customer to place an order for the necessary Apple genuine parts and tools using the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store. After the repair, any customers who return their used parts for recycling will receive credit toward their purchase.

Access To 200 Parts and Tools

Those choosing to attempt their own repairs via the “Self-Service Repair” programme will join the global network of 5,000 Apple Authorised Service Providers (AASPs) and 2,800 Independent Repair Providers who already have access to Apple parts, tools, and manuals. Those in the initial phase of the programme, however, will only have access, via the new store, to the 200 parts and tools which are commonly used for iPhone 12 and 13 repairs.

Next Phase

The wider roll-out of the programme is due to take place beyond the US to “additional countries” throughout 2022. Apple’s plan for the next phase of the programme is to provide Self-Service Repair for Mac computers featuring M1 chips.

Professional Repairs Still Best For The Majority

In its announcement of the new programme, Apple acknowledged that “For the vast majority of customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair.”

Devices To Landfill A Big Problem

Devices such as phones contain precious elements that can be extracted and recycled, but vast numbers of phones simply go to landfill, adding to pollution levels. For example, a recent assessment by the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) showed that 151 million or more phones per year (approximately 416,000 per day) are incinerated or landfilled and that 40 per cent of heavy metals in US landfills come from discarded electronics.

Right To Repair Movement

The ‘right to repair’ movement has grown in recent years with the basic idea being to help tackle built-in obsolescence, thereby prolonging product life cycles, creating better value and saving money for consumers, reducing the number of products going to waste, and helping the environment. There have been calls for rules/legislation to be passed that force manufacturers (e.g., of appliances, electrical products, white goods and more) to make parts (and information) available to end customers, and not just approved/authorised repairers, and technicians, so that it is possible for end-users to fix the product at home.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

In reality, it seems unlikely in what has become a society used to simply “throwing away and replacing” (rather than repairing products) that many users will attempt home repairs on what are relatively complicated, delicate, high-value, and important daily-use items. Nevertheless, being seen to give the right to repair is likely to be really valued by some people and viewed positively by many. Apple has gone from the low-point scandal of being fined (for using a software update to slow down some old iPhones and not telling people how to fix the problem and prompting a battery replacement) to what appears to be the complete turnaround with this transparency and positivity of giving customers the power, means, and choice to fix their own devices rather than forcing them to only use approved technicians. Many businesses are aware of the need for improved environmental credentials and use Apple devices. This could mean a positive rub-off value for them and, coupled with the recent announcement of offering a Business Essentials full device management service, businesses now have some good reasons to view Apple in more positive light.

News

Tech Insight : Apple : What is ‘Sideloading?

In Apple’s new “Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps” white paper, it describes the threat posed by ‘sideloading’ on its App Stores. Here’s what you need to know.

Sideloading

Sideloading normally refers to transferring a file between two local devices without the use of the internet e.g., by connecting your computer to a smartphone or tablet. The threat that Apple is referring to, however, is the sideloading of apps and alternative app stores on iOS – thus allowing developers to distribute apps outside of the App Store, through direct downloads or third-party app stores / the ability to install iPhone smartphone that does not come directly from the Apple-controlled iOS App Store.

Pressure

Apple is currently facing pressure from regulators and some developers to support sideloading. Also, Apple does not currently allow third-party app stores to be downloaded from its own App Store and is under investigation in the EU, UK, and US over its App Store policies, awaiting the outcome of a legal battle with Epic Games relating to allegedly unfair terms set by Apple.

Arguments For Sideloading

Some of the arguments for allowing sideloading are that:

– It’s a way to tackle a monopoly (e.g., Apple’s) and give developers more freedom, improve competition, plus it could help developers to implement alternative business models and make the platform even more attractive.

– It gives users greater choice and perhaps pay lower prices for some apps.

– Apple may not be able to guarantee absolute security of the apps in its official store anyway.

Arguments Against Allowing Sideloading

Some of main arguments that Apple has given against allowing sideloading are:

– It would cripple the privacy and security protections that have made iPhone so secure, and expose users to serious security risks, such as mobile malware (i.e., adware, ransomware, spyware) plus banking and other credential-stealing trojans that masquerade as legitimate apps.

– Developers and advertisers could be harmed by the mobile malware attacks that allowing sideloading would enable (e.g., through piracy, intellectual property theft, and loss of advertising revenue).

– Developers could be harmed by the proliferation of fake, copycat, and pirated apps.

– Even if sideloading were limited to third-party app stores only, more harmful apps could reach users because it would be easier for cybercriminals to target them.

– Users would have less information about apps up-front, with less control over apps after they download them onto their devices

– Being made to remove protections against third-party access to proprietary hardware elements and non-public operating system functions could undermine core components of Apple’s platform security that protect the operating system and iPhone data and services, thereby making it easier for cybercriminals to spy on users’ devices and steal their data.

– Users could be forced to sideload an app they need, or duped into sideloading e.g., by mimicking the appearance of the App Store, or by suggesting free or expanded access to services or exclusive features.

– Apple has spent a long time investing in (and creating) industry-leading security protections for its iPhone App Store.

– According to Apple, most threats are predominantly present on platforms that support sideloading.

– Malware-infected mobile apps put all stakeholders in the mobile ecosystem at risk.

– Governments and international agencies worldwide along with cybersecurity experts warn against the risks posed by downloading apps from third-party app stores:

– For the full list (and explanation) of Apple’s objections to the idea of having to support sideloading, see Apple’s white paper (pdf) here: https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Building_a_Trusted_Ecosystem_for_Millions_of_Apps_A_Threat_Analysis_of_Sideloading.pdf

Others Allow It

Google’s Android already allows apps to be installed that don’t come directly from its official store, as do computing platforms. Also, Apple’s MacBooks and Microsoft Windows-powered laptops and desktops have allowed it.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The pressure on Apple to allow sideloading relates essentially to antitrust /anti-competition arguments. Some developers and others are objecting to what they see as Apple’s anti-competitive rules and Apple’s controversial app review process, and some developers have consequently dismissed many of the arguments that Apple presented in its recent white paper. Few would argue that Apple does have a generally good reputation over the security of its products and services, and individual and business users would clearly see the value in decisions made by Apple that would help protect the privacy and security of their data, but users also want choice, and app developers want more freedom. One threat on the horizon for Apple on this matter is that new EU regulation of digital markets could possibly force Apple to enable sideloading.

The facts remain, however, that competitors allow it, although this can, as Apple argues, sometimes lead to issues. For example, in 2019, a Security researcher discovered that 24 apps available for download in the Google Play Store contained contain ‘Joker’ malware.

Whether or not Apple does eventually allow sideloading, most of us (particularly Android users) are already aware of the fact that we need to be cautious when choosing apps to download. To minimise the risk of falling victim to damage caused by fake or malicious apps, users can check the publisher of an app, check which permissions the app requests when you install it, delete apps from your phone that you no longer use, and contact your phone’s service provider or visit the high street store if you think you’ve downloaded a malicious/suspect app.

News

Tech News: Apple To Scan Phones For Inappropriate Content

Apple has announced that all iPhone photos will be scanned for any evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to protect children and to help stop the spread of CSAM online.

How?

Apple’s new versions of iOS and iPadOS, due to be released later this year, will include a new system designed to detect any CSAM using a cryptographic technology called private set intersection. The system can perform on-device matching using a database of known CSAM image hashes provided by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other child safety organisations. The system uses its own unreadable and securely (on-device) stored hashes and safety vouchers to encode any matches that it finds. Apple says that the system’s threshold is set to provide “an extremely high level of accuracy” which should ensure that there is less than a one in one trillion chance per year of incorrectly flagging a given account.

The system means that an automatic on-device matching process against known CSAM hashes is performed on any photo before it enters iCloud photos storage.

Manually Reviewed

Apple says that only when a certain threshold in the safety vouchers is exceeded (i.e. the automated system is sure of a match) can a photo be manually reviewed by Apple.

If There’s A Match

If Apple’s system confirms that there is a match (i.e. the photo contains evidence of CSAM), Apple says that it will disable the user’s account, and send a report to NCMEC.

What If There’s A Mistake?

Apple says that if a user feels that their account has been mistakenly flagged, they can file an appeal to have their account reinstated.

Criticism

The announcement of the new system has been criticised from the point of view that allowing a system to scan users’ private photos for any prohibited material has general privacy implications and could even be paving the way for government or other surveillance.

Apple Says…

Apple says that the system has “significant privacy benefits over existing techniques since Apple only learns about users’ photos if they have a collection of known CSAM in their iCloud Photos account. Even in these cases, Apple only learns about images that match known CSAM.”

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

There is no doubt that any innovations that can genuinely help in the fight against child sexual abuse have to be a good thing and it’s a bold move from Apple to announce the introduction of this system. Apple has gone to great lengths to publicise the fact that the system is very accurate and appears to go as far as it can to protect privacy. Despite Apple’s good intentions however, there are fears that this kind of system could be misused in future to allow agencies, authorities, and governments a ‘back-door’ into surveillance of the wider population in the same way that governments have long wanted back doors into end-to-end encrypted apps like WhatsApp. Unfortunately for WhatsApp, for example, it has just introduced a ‘View Once’ disappearing pictures feature that has drawn criticism that it could be misused in a way that enables CSAM to be shared more easily on the app. Another benefit for Apple using its new system is that it can ensure that its file storage areas don’t contain illegal material and, therefore, it can help ensure that Apple can keep its own house in order legally, professionally, ethically, and morally.

News

The history of Apple

Apple Day is an annual celebration of apples and orchards, held in October. This Apple Day, instead of talking about the fruit, we thought we would look at the brand.

In 2018, with a net worth of $750 billion, it’s difficult to imagine that Apple was once on the brink of failure. But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Steve Jobs and business partner Steve Wozniak who founded the company in 1976.

To fund their business venture, both young men sold treasured items. Jobs was in charge of marketing and Wozniak was the creator of the products.

The Apple I was their first product and went on the market at a price of $666 and around 200 units were sold. In the same year the Apple I was made and sold, it was also discontinued to make way for new products.

1980s

By the 1980s, Apple was a well-known company with a value of around $1.2 million dollars.

Despite the profit made in the early years, the next products released from Apple showed flaws. As a result of this, other companies in the industry dominated the market. In 1984, the Macintosh was released and while it performed well, it did not stand up to competitors.

In 1985, Steve Jobs was pushed out of Apple after company executives concluded that he was of detriment to the company. After leaving Apple, Jobs threw himself into new work and purchased an animation company, now known as Pixar Animation Studios (and owned by Walt Disney). Jobs saw potential in the business and invested $50 million into the company.

1990

Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and was determined to get the company back on track.

He brought new ideas in terms of products and marketing to draw consumers in once again. After Jobs returned to the company, stocks improved steadily and Apple once again became a very big name in the market.

The company became a household name, releasing innovative products that the market had never seen before. Products such as the iPod and iPhone have contributed to where Apple is today; one of the biggest companies in the world.

At SMY IT Services, we pride ourselves on providing IT support to business with both Windows and Apple operating systems. So, whether you’ve vowed your allegiance to Apple or you just prefer Windows, we can help.

Not made up your mind? Why not check out our previous blog: Apple or Microsoft? Here’s our comparison.

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Apple or Microsoft? Here’s our comparison

As an IT specialist, we understand that getting the best hardware and operating system for your business is crucial. There are two major ones we can take a look at today – Microsoft and Apple. Both have advantages and disadvantages which set them apart from each other. To make things as easy as possible, we’ve set about our comparison below between the two.

Compatibility

Microsoft Windows has the biggest market share in computing. This means that it is more likely to be compatible with other programmes and software.

Microsoft have released a version of this for Mac and it looks very similar to the Windows version. This means that well-known software such as Microsoft Office can be on Apple devices. For more unique or specialised programmes, Apple users might have a hard time finding one compatible with an Apple Mac.

What many Apple Mac users can do is install Parallels. This allows the Microsoft Windows operating system to run on their system. Very few business software packages are compatible on an Apple Mac natively.

It’s important to decide which operating system is right for you. It is best to consider what you will be mainly using your computer for and what programmes you would require.

Durability

Apple hardware used to arguably be more reliable than Microsoft Windows. This is because the Apple Mac operating system was written specifically hardware components which were optimised to work together and allows everything to run more smoothly. That all changed several years ago when Apple stopped manufacturing their own computer chips. They instead chose to resell Intel which means both Apple Mac and Windows now use common hardware.

Microsoft is more open in this regard allowing Microsoft Windows to be installed on virtually any hardware. As a result of this, you have more flexibility in the type of device you want to use.

Many users choose to have an Apple Mac because it looks nice and sleek. Microsoft manufactures hardware and have a range of products to suit every type of user. For more details see the Microsoft Surface site here or contact SMY IT Services for guidance.

Security

Microsoft has the biggest market share which makes it a target for attackers, rendering their users more vulnerable.

A wide range of malware is available for Microsoft Windows, but Mac users still need Antivirus and Malware protection. Due to increasing popularity, more malware is released for Apple than Windows. As a result of this, both devices are equally as likely to be affected by a security issue.

Cost

Compared to Microsoft computers, Apple computers are very expensive.  This is because users tend to compare the spec of £2,000 Apple Macbook Pro with a basic Windows device and expect it to perform on a comparable level.

Nearly all Microsoft Windows based computers will wind up less expensive than buying an Apple computer. That is until you compare it with Microsoft’s Surface range here.

Repairs

With Apple components being so integrated, it can be a difficult repair job to pinpoint what isn’t working properly. This can therefore mean that Apple repairs can be more costly than Microsoft repairs as Microsoft components are easily accessible.

Depending on what your business does can have a hand in choosing which hardware is best for you.

Creative professionals might lean towards using Apple computers because the Adobe products they work with were originally made for Apple.

Microsoft computers are the larger market share, it can benefit nearly all businesses because there is no limitation on software compatibility or customisation.

SMY IT works with both Microsoft and Apple and is knowledgeable in both systems. Contact us today if you need advice for your business.