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   ExtraBITS for 2 April 2013

   TidBITS Staff

   iCloud security and Core Data syncing dominated our attention last
   week, broken up by news that T-Mobile will finally begin selling the
   iPhone ' in an unusual no-contract sales arrangement.

   [1]The Verge Examines Apple's Cloud Security -- Should security
   practices be kept secret? The Verge's Tim Carmody suggests that Apple's
   legendary secretiveness could result in worse security than if the
   company were more transparent about how it protects customer data. He
   closes with, 'All the evidence suggests that much like Apple Maps or
   MobileMe, iCloud simply isn't at the level of polish and performance
   we've come to expect from Apple. Security is just a symptom.'

   [2]Read/post comments

   [3]The Reality of iCloud Core Data Syncing -- The Verge's Ellis
   Hamburger talked to a bunch of developers in writing this extensive
   article about frustrations with iCloud's Core Data syncing features,
   which are necessary for apps that need to do database-style syncing via
   iCloud (as opposed to document-style syncing, which works fine).
   Syncing is hard, but Apple needs to get it right if developers ' and
   users ' are to rely on iCloud integration.

   [4]Read/post comments

   [5]Rich Siegel Explains the Issues with iCloud Core Data Syncing --
   Developer frustrations with iCloud Core Data syncing have been much in
   the news of late, but for those who are wondering ' at a technical
   level ' what the fuss is all about, Rich Siegel of Bare Bones Software
   lays out what is involved with iCloud data syncing, and where
   developers are experiencing problems.

   [6]Read/post comments

   [7]T-Mobile to Sell iPhone Starting 12 April 2013 -- Macworld's Dan
   Moren tracks down the picky details surrounding T-Mobile's announcement
   that it will start selling the iPhone (the 4, 4S, and 5) in the United
   States on 12 April 2013. Notable facts about T-Mobile's move include
   unsubsidized hardware for down payments plus monthly charges, a $50 per
   month unlimited plan (for talk, text, and data, with a 500 MB cap on 4G
   data, which includes tethering), and simultaneous voice and data
   (offered by AT&T currently, but not Verizon or Sprint).

   [8]Read/post comments

References

   1. http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/29/4158594/password-denied-when-will-apple-get-serious-about-security
   2. http://tidbits.com/article/13671#comments
   3. http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/26/4148628/why-doesnt-icloud-just-work
   4. http://tidbits.com/article/13661#comments
   5. http://rms2.tumblr.com/post/46505165521/the-gathering-storm-our-travails-with-icloud-sync
   6. http://tidbits.com/article/13662#comments
   7. http://www.macworld.com/article/2032069/iphone-arrives-at-t-mobile-on-april-12.html
   8. http://tidbits.com/article/13659#comments