Today’s Apple event was oddly paced, with a long time spent discussing topics that weren’t new hardware products. While unusual, I liked what I saw.
The FBI & Environment
Tim Cook opened today’s event by talking about the on-going FBI case concerning weakening the iPhone’s encryption. “We need to decide, as a nation, how much power the government should have over our data and our privacy,” Cook said. “We did not expect to be in this position, at odds with our own government,” he continued, “but we believe strongly that we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and your privacy.”
Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, then walked the press through Apple’s on-going environmental initiatives. Here are some quick figures:
- 93% of Apple’s facilities run on renewable power worldwide.
- In 21 out of the 23 countries Apple operates in, its 100%, including the US.
- Apple built a 40-megawatt solar farm in China that’s yak-friendly.
- 99% of the paper products in its boxes is either recycled or comes from “sustainably managed forests.”
Jackson then showed a short video featuring “Liam,” a robotic arm designed to disassemble an iPhone (to prepare it for recycling) with frightening speed and accuracy.
There is no doubt that Apple has a long way to go in many areas, but seeing what the company’s doing concerning the environment is always refreshing.
CareKit & Updates to ResearchKit
Jeff Williams provided an update on ResearchKit, the system that allows doctors and institutions use the iPhone and iOS software to make large-scale medical research a reality.
ResearchKit seems to have taken off, with huge studies now underway looking at Parkinson’s, epilepsy, autism and more.
Williams then introduced CareKit, a new system for allowing patients take a more active role in their treatment. CareKit gives patients tools to track symptoms, manage medications and review things like post-surgical dos and don’ts.
Out of everything the company does, these products are the best examples of making a true “dent in the universe.”
tvOS Update
Apple announced that there are 5,000 Apple TV apps on the Store. With today’s software update, they can be put into folders, and Siri can do a lot more. Also on board is iCloud Photo Library support, decades after it launched.