MacRumors

The New York Police Department is making good on a promise made last year to dole out iPhone handsets to its officers, replacing around 36,000 Windows Phones as part of a new hardware upgrade strategy, reports the New York Daily News.

The NYPD has been rolling out hundreds of the phones since Christmas to Manhattan cops, who can choose between iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models. The platform switch comes at no cost to the police department because the handsets are filed as upgrades under the agency's contract with AT&T.

Police in the Bronx and Staten Island have already received their new phones, with officers in the Queens and Brooklyn boroughs next in line to make the switch to iOS.

Armed with Apple's smartphones, the NYPD has seen its response times to critical crimes in progress drop by 14 percent, according to Tisch. The iPhones also allow cops to get videos and surveillance pictures of wanted suspects within minutes of a crime.

"I truly feel like it's the ultimate tool to have as a patrol cop," said Police Officer Christopher Clampitt. "We get to the location a lot quicker," he said. "By the time the dispatcher puts out the job (on the radio) we're already there."

Before the rollout, NYPD's smartphones of choice were Nokia's Lumia 830 and Lumia 640 XL, released in October 2014 and March 2015 respectively. The discontinued devices run Windows Phone 8.1, which Microsoft ended support for in July 2017 to focus on its newer Windows 10 Mobile platform and cloud-based services.

In October 2014, New York City officials announced plans to roll out handheld devices to every NYPD officer for the first time ever, along with tablets for every patrol car. The $160 million initiative was part of a plan to bring the department into the 21st century.

Music journalist Alex Gale has been named the new head of editorial for Apple Music, reports Variety. Gale has previously written for sites like Billboard, Complex, XXL, and Vibe.

Gale, who will work under Jen Robbins, the director of project management and editorial for Apple, will lead the team that's responsible for all written content on Apple's music platforms, including Apple Music, iTunes, Beats 1, and some video projects.

Written Apple Music content appears in interviews, Apple Music features, details on playlists, information on videos, album intros, and more.

News of Gale's hiring comes just after Apple announced that Apple Music has grown to 36 million total subscribers around the world, a six million increase from the 30 million the company reported in September of 2017.

Apple introduced two-factor authentication (2FA) in 2015 to provide an enhanced level of security when accessing Apple ID accounts. With 2FA enabled, you'll be the only person who can access your account, regardless of whether someone learns your password – as the result of a hack or a phishing scam, for example – so it's well worth taking the time to enable the feature. In this article, we'll show you how.

How Two-Factor Authentication Works

2FA offers hardened security during login attempts by requesting that the user provides an extra piece of information only they would know.

With 2FA enabled on your Apple ID account, the next time you try to log in you will be automatically sent a six-digit verification code to all the Apple devices you have registered to that Apple ID. If you try to access the account from an unknown device or on the web, 2FA also displays a map on all registered devices with an approximate location of where the Apple ID login attempt occurred.

In basic terms, this is an improved version of Apple's older two-step verification method, which prompted users to send a four-digit code to a registered SMS-capable device. Apple automatically upgraded most two-step verification users to 2FA as of iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, but if you're still on two-step verification for some reason, follow the steps below to manually upgrade to 2FA.

How to Turn Off Two-Step Verification

1. Open a browser and go to appleid.apple.com
2. Enter your Apple ID and password in the login fields.
3. In the Security section of your account page, click the Edit button on the right.
4. Check to make sure two-step verification is enabled rather than two-factor authentication, and click Turn off two-step verification.

How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication in iOS

To turn on 2FA using an iPhone or iPad, it needs to be running iOS 9 or later. Note that if you're running iOS 10 or later and you have any other, older devices tied to your Apple ID that aren't compatible with 2FA, you'll receive a compatibility warning during the setup process.

On top of that, you'll also be asked to append a six-digit code to the end of your password whenever you authenticate a login on your older devices in future. You can potentially avoid this hassle by updating those devices to the latest version of iOS or macOS where possible.

With that in mind, perform the following steps on your iOS device:

1. Open the Settings app and tap your Apple ID banner at the top of screen.
2. Tap Password & Security.
3. Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication, and then tap Continue on the next screen.
4. Tap Turn On Anyway if you see a compatibility warning about older devices.
5. Check your phone number is correct. (If it isn't, tap Use a Different Number at the bottom of the screen and input a new number.)
6. Select Text message or Phone call for verification, and then tap Next.
7. Enter your Passcode.

How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication on a Mac

If it's a Mac you're using to enable two-factor authentication then make sure it's running OS X El Capitan or later. To turn on 2FA on Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple () symbol in the menu bar at the top left of the desktop, and select System Preferences.
2. Click the iCloud preferences pane.
3. Click the Account Details button and select the Security tab.
4. Click Turn on Two-Factor Authentication, and then click Continue in the drop-down pane.
5. Check your phone number is correct and click Continue.

Verification Codes

With 2FA enabled, you'll be prompted to enter a new verification code every time you log in to your Apple ID account using iCloud.com or another Mac or iOS device. These codes will automatically appear on devices that are already logged into your Apple ID, but you can also request them manually using an iPhone or iPad, like so:

1. Open the Settings app and tap on your Apple ID banner at the top of the screen.
2. Tap Password & Security.
3. Tap Get Verification Code.

Apple on iTunes recently discounted a few bundles for movies in the Cloverfield, Mission: Impossible, and Jack Ryan franchises. The sale prices have gone live on iTunes alongside the reveal of new trailers for the latest entries in each franchise (as well as an all-new Cloverfield movie on Netflix), which happened during last night's Super Bowl LII.

We've listed all of the bundles and prices below, as well as a few other notable movie discounts happening this week on iTunes.

• Cloverfield 2-Movie Bundle (4K) - $19.98, down from $24.99
• Jack Ryan 4-Movie Bundle (HD) - $19.96, down from $29.99
• Mission: Impossible 5-Movie Bundle (HD) - $24.99, down from $49.99
• Cloverfield (4K) - $9.99, down from $14.99
• 10 Cloverfield Lane (4K) - $9.99, down from $14.99
• Get Out (4K) - $9.99, down from $14.99
• Baby Driver (4K) - $9.99, down from $19.99

There are also a few returning deals happening today for products like the Apple Watch and iPad mini. Target has once again discounted the Apple Watch Series 1 by $70 in both 38mm ($179.99) and 42mm ($209.99). Similar to the last sale from a few weeks ago, the only devices marked down are the aluminum watches with Sport bands in Silver/White and Space Gray/Black. All models are available to ship for free, and you can get free shipping to your local Target as well, depending on stock.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

At Best Buy, the retailer has the iPad mini 4 (Wi-Fi only, 128GB) at $299.99, down from $399.99, in Gold, Space Gray, and Silver. The new offer matches the tablet's discounted price last seen in sales leading up to and following the holidays at Best Buy and Target. For those who purchase an iPad mini 4, Best Buy has also discounted Speck's StyleFolio Case for the tablet to $18.99, down from $34.99.

For more information on sales happening this week, be sure to head over to our full Deals Roundup.

NikePlus members can now earn free Apple Music subscriptions and exclusive playlists by completing workouts or purchasing select Nike products.

Nike didn't reveal exactly how to unlock the perks, but by achieving various milestones in the Nike+ Run Club or Nike+ Training Club apps in a given month, NikePlus members can earn rewards such as a free one-month Apple Music subscription or access to exclusive Nike playlists that include high-energy mixes.

Meanwhile, NikePlus Members who purchase Nike's Epic React Flyknit running shoes in its exclusive White Fusion color will unlock up to four months of free access to Apple Music. The shoes are available for $150 starting today exclusively for NikePlus members in the United States, and on February 22 for non-members.

Apple today announced a new cyber risk management solution aimed at the enterprise market and launching with partners Cisco, Aon, and Allianz. Each company is adding their own expertise into the solution, including cyber resilience evaluation services from Aon, the "most secure" technology from Apple and Cisco, and options for enhanced cyber insurance coverage from Allianz.

The goal is said to help businesses better manage and protect themselves from the risk of cyber attacks, like ransomware and other malware-related threats. In the announcement, Apple said that the "low adoption" of cyber insurance amid an increased risk of attacks led to the new partnership, which ultimately aims to help businesses become "more resilient" to these threats.

Businesses taking part in the solution will potentially qualify for lower, "or even no," deductibles in some cases, as well as gain access to "market leading" policy coverage terms. The key elements of the solution include:

- Cyber Resilience Evaluation: Aon cyber security professionals will assess interested customers’ cyber security posture and recommend ways to help improve their cyber security defenses.

- Cyber Insurance: Customers using Cisco Ransomware Defense, and/or qualified Apple products can be eligible for the Allianz-developed enhanced cyber insurance offering, acknowledging the superior level of security afforded to businesses by Cisco and Apple technology.

- Incident Response Services: Organizations will have access to Cisco and Aon’s Incident Response teams in the event of a malware attack.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the partnership will help make cyber insurance "more accessible" for the businesses that partake in the solution. In total, Apple's iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices are said to be the tools supported under the new insurance.

“The choice of technology providers plays a critical role in any company’s defense against cyber attacks. That’s why, from the beginning, Apple has built products from the ground up with security in mind, and one of the many reasons why businesses around the world are choosing our products to power their enterprise," said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“iPhone, iPad and Mac are the best tools for work, offering the world’s best user experience and the strongest security. We’re thrilled that insurance industry leaders recognize that Apple products provide superior cyber protection, and that we have the opportunity to help make enhanced cyber insurance more accessible to our customers.”

Cisco has launched a new website with more information about the cyber risk solution. For business interested, Apple said that the solution is available starting today.

Broadcom is reportedly moving forward with its attempt to purchase chipmaker Qualcomm, by increasing its bid for the company to about $121 billion and $82 per share, described as a "final offer." The new offer comes three months after Broadcom's first bid for Qualcomm, originally valued at about $105 billion ($70 per share), plus $25 billion of net debt (via Bloomberg).

If the acquisition goes through it would still be considered the "largest-ever technology deal," although Qualcomm's board previously rejected the first offer and is said to have "dug in" against threats of potential hostile takeovers. With the increased offer, Broadcom now hopes to put pressure back on Qualcomm to accept the deal and "improve prospects" for Broadcom CEO Hock Tan to be nominated to Qualcomm's board should the deal go through.

Broadcom Ltd. has raised its bid for Qualcomm Inc. to about $121 billion, in an attempt to force what could be the largest-ever technology deal. The new offer of $82 a Qualcomm share will be Broadcom’s final offer, according to a statement Monday. The deal would take the form of $60 in cash and the remainder in Broadcom shares.

Broadcom’s hostile bid for the larger San Diego-based company is the latest and most audacious move by Tan in a string of deals that have made his company one of the world’s largest suppliers of semiconductors. He wants Qualcomm for its leading smartphone modem chip division, an example of what he calls a “franchise” that will continue to dominate.

If completed, Broadcom would become the third-largest chipmaker in the world, behind Intel and Samsung Electronics, and the combined Broadcom-Qualcomm business would "instantly become" the default provider of certain components required to build more than one billion smartphones sold every year. The acquisition would eclipse Dell's $67 billion purchase of EMC in 2015, considered at the time the biggest in the technology industry.

Qualcomm is said to be pushing back against such acquisition offers because it see its own future to be "much brighter as a standalone company," further stating that it's "on the cusp" of entering new product markets. At the same time, Qualcomm has been in a legal battle with Apple for over a year now, after Apple accused Qualcomm of charging unfair royalties for "technologies they have nothing to do with" and failing to pay for quarterly rebates.

Throughout the lawsuits, Apple eventually considered removing Qualcomm modems from its devices altogether moving forward, and the latest report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pointed towards Intel-only modems for the 2018 iPhones.

A Chinese counterfeiter who participated in a scheme to traffic and smuggle counterfeit products mimicking Apple's iPhones and iPads today pled guilty to trafficking and conspiracy charges, according to a press release shared on the website of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jianhua "Jeff" Li, working through a company called Dream Digitals, conspired with several other individuals to smuggle more than 40,000 fake iPads, iPhones, and accessories into the United States from China from 2009 to 2014. The electronic devices in question included labels and packaging bearing counterfeit Apple trademarks.

To get the counterfeit products into the country, Li shipped the devices separately from the counterfeit trademarks. Fake devices were sent all over the United States, and proceeds from the sales were funneled into bank accounts in Florida and New Jersey.

Li, who was officially charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and labels and to smuggle goods into the United States and one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods, received payments totaling more than $1.1 million from U.S. accounts.

Li could be facing several years in prison for his crime. A co-conspirator, Rosario LaMarca, was sentenced to 37 months in prison back in July, while two others Li worked with, Roberto Volpe and Andreina Becerra, are awaiting sentencing.