Neil Hughes
Apple CEO Tim Cook was interviewed at the opening night of the All Things D conference in California, where AppleInsider was in attendance (live coverage available here). Questioned by journalists Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, Cook revealed that Apple plans to "double down" on product security and secrecy.
"We're going to double down on secrecy," Cook said Tuesday. "I'm very serious about this. Double down."
Cook's comments come after Apple has seen a number of high-profile product leaks in recent years ahead of their formal unveiling. Most significant was the discovery of an iPhone 4 prototype in a California bar in 2010.
But while Cook indicated that Apple is stepping up its efforts to conceal unannounced products and plans, he also revealed that the company intends to open up on other issues, particularly those related to overseas labor at partners like Foxconn.
"We put a ton of effort into taking overtime down," Cook said. "It's hard because it's complex. Some people want to do a ton of work, move to a factory and work long hours, and then move home."
The Apple CEO revealed that Apple is now reporting hours for 700,000 people, and it puts out its own labor report. While Apple has filed lawsuits against companies for what company officials feel has been theft of its product designs, Cook said he hopes "people rip us off blindly" when it comes to social accountability.
Visit AppleInsider's D10 archive for more of Cook's comments and ongoing coverage of the conference.
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26 Comments
It's not like they can do too much more on the 'secrecy' front without resorting to (near) less-than-ethical means. :-/ Anyway... It's a tech company, not the DoD.
They're not doing a great job so far. It's pretty much common knowledge that Apple will produce a new iPhone, and it will have a screen that is larger, smaller or the same size as the current one. There are also fairly well substantiated rumors (as Apple Insider posts almost daily) that the new iPhone will look similar or different to the current iPhone.
It's not like they can do too much more on the 'secrecy' front without resorting to (near) less-than-ethical means. :-/
Anyway... It's a tech company, not the DoD.
Require prototype device check ins every 60 minutes to keep testers accountable.
More deliberate leaks to link back to potential traitors, as well as harsher, legal consequences.
But you're obviously right; Cook should just put less emphasis on secrecy and let the good times roll. They just make high tech toys, so really, in the grand scheme of things, who cares, amirite?
Interesting he says this about secrecy the same day those awful iPhone "leaks" came out. May or may not be related but I feel this gives credence to the fabrication of those models
They're not doing a great job so far. It's pretty much common knowledge that Apple will produce a new iPhone, and it will have a screen that is larger, smaller or the same size as the current one. There are also fairly well substantiated rumors (as Apple Insider posts almost daily) that the new iPhone will look similar or different to the current iPhone.
It's common knowledge because they make a new iteration of the iPhone every year. The specifics are unknown besides rumors.