Apple Pissed Off Beijing? Mistake or On Purpose?

Here's the gist.  Sydney Morning Herald is reporting a blogger in China Apple support told her that her access to iTunes was not being blocked at their end.  Why is this significant?


An album called Songs For Tibet was being downloaded and offered for free to Olympics athletes as a means of protest.  The album was launched on August 5 on iTunes.  The Art of Peace Foundation offered the album free of charge to the Olympians.  By downloading and and listening to the album, it was a way for the athletes to show their support for the Tibetan people.  

It not clear if this was something Apple was aware of.  After all, could Apple really not catch this before allowing music that is likely to piss off the overlords of the biggest consumer market in the world?  Well, sure.
It's possible given how stretched Apple is with the launches of iPhone worldwide and the problems they're having to deal with such as MobileMe and 3G connectivity issues.  

Plus, the title of the album sounded harmless enough.  With sounds, videos, and movies added all the time, it's entirely possible the addition of a politically charged album was given the same treatment of any other music.  According to SMH, the proceeds would go towards projects favored by the Dalai Lama.  Ouch. 

But suppose Apple did know about this.  Think differently, are they?  Just about ever Western companies have capitulated to the will of the Beijing government.  It's as if the nation of 20% of the world's population was more important than the rest of the 80%.  


I'm not going to get political here.  But folks should know what it's like to deal with the Chinese government.  A lot of times, it's their way or, well, just their way.  It's the nature of capitalism.  Just ask the Chinese guy Jerry Yang helped Beijing locked away.

That said, suppose Apple knew about the charged nature of the album and the situation it can create but decided to roll the dice and see what they come up with.  Would it be such a bad bet standing up to Beijing?

Outside of China, there are five billion plus consumers would may appreciate a company that finally stood up to a totalitarian government everyone from GM to Coke to all the foreign leaders who showed up for the opening ceremony.  Standing up to the Communist government is a claim Yahoo and Microsoft cannot claim.  For all the worth of "do no evil" mantra adopted by Google, it simply is not willing to walk away from 20% of the search market and relinquish it to Microsoft, Yahoo, or Baidu.  

Sure, Chinese patriots will rip Apple and profess never to buy a Mac or an iPod.  But there could be more outside of China just might look look at Apple's iTunes protest favorably enough to decide to make their next phone an iPhone or their next laptop a Macbook.  Imagine folks in Congress starts to mandate the federal government only deal with companies that does not bow to the will of the Chinese government.  Apple could sell more iPhones and Macs than they ever dream of in China!

What a story this would be but let's face it.  Apple is a corporate entity whose purpose to is make as much only as possible.  As digital music news said best, "Ultimately, Apple, Google and other high-flying companies are forced to modify their content and approach, or risk exclusion".  

More reading related this issue:

• Sydney Morning Herald
• digital music news
• the MacObserver
• Salon
• Rolling Stone
• Mobilewhack

We'll follow up on this once the news outlets and tech blogs pick up on this.  This could be interest if Apple affirms this ploy or an "honest mistake" by Apple.

Weekend Update and the Week Ahead

This weekend was suppose to be a slow one but the Department of Homeland Security gave us something to talk about.  A recent court decision ruled in favor of DHS' contention that laptops and other digital media were fair game, just like other luggage, subject to checks at US borders.  Thus, a disturbing directive from DHS has granted Customs agents the ability seize laptops and its data.  In fairness, it is an attempt to stop terrorists and contraband smugglers.  Of course, the government has yet to say anything about the same data they seize for analysis, whether it contains legal or illegal information, coming into the country through the Internet.

During the week, Onxo blasted IOC's capitulation to Beijing for allow the Communist government to redefine the meaning of free press for the rest of the world.  We also offered some important information for mobile warriors go overseas for business or leisure who may also be subject to espionage.  The same information also how applies to the new directives from DHS.

On lighter matters, we discussed the following:

• Midori - Microsoft's brand new OS coming in 2010 (but they really mean 2014)
• We think Microsoft should look in the mirror for the reason why they missed their Windows Mobile shipment target and why we think they may have done just that with a potential mobile surprise this fall.

Onxo Mobile Tips:

• How to save battery life on your mobile device.  This was covered two weeks ago but it is one of our most read articles.
• Avoid Losing Your Laptops (or forgetting you had a laptop with you at any time).
• Syncing iCal with Google Calendar (also Google Calendar with Outlook).
• How to get free WiFi at Starbucks or other ATT access points.

For the coming week, we'll discuss more about natural disaster preparations for mobile workers.  We'll sharing with you the changes in telecommuting for the American workforce.    This matter with the Department of Homeland Security will remain a focus and we want to make sure things are as they appear and report the facts before we overreact (we might do just for the fun of it).  

Also, we're hoping for more information from Blackberry, Samsung, and Sony on what's ahead for them for the month of August/September.  Microsoft missed their Windows Mobile sales target.  We think Redmond bares watching and not just what new iPods Apple may or may not be waiting in the wings.  

We want to know more about Android and what apps we can expect.  Maybe we'll have some comparisons with what the iPhone apps offering are so far.  

See you Monday!

Cyber Threats: Just Some of the Time?

I recently read a WSJ report, about cyber security in light of the Olympics.  For some traveling to Beijing for the games, as spectators or those seeking business opportunities, they may take with them laptops, smartphones, or digital storage media.  Pay attention.

WSJ reported that a debate had taken place whether to warn the public of the danger posed by Chinese hackers.  Let me put the debate to rest.  I'll do it here and now.  Okay, it's public.  But shouldn't cyber security be a year round threat and not just during the Olympics in China?

And it's not just Chinese hackers we need to be wary of.  How about being wary of hackers in general?  Despite the paralysis suffered by the US government on this issue, the Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings of cyber threats against mobile workers who travel overseas.  Because the threat was not specific, this alert was not made public.  


The WSJ article came out before it was made public of the IOC's deal with the organizers of the Beijing Games to allow the Chinese government to implement Internet censorship it deemed not related to the Olympics, cutting off thousands of journalists off at the knees.  

Somtimes bloggers to reprint materials from other sources, I have reservations about copyright ownership.  So I will offer links to pertinent information instead of posting the relevant information here.  I apologize for the inconvience :)

I've included the Homeland Security assessment here.  I hope WSJ will make this perpetually available to the general public.  It is a 3-page PDF file that described key finds as follows:  foreign powers targeting Americans traveling abroad with the goal of fathering "economic, military and political information".  Essentially, viruses, trojan horses, or exploitations of any security holes will be pursued to that end.  Even trickery.  

I think the report is right in not mention any specific foreign state or body that poses as a threat.  This is not just a matter of the Olympics because cyber security threats exist all year around all over the world.  Here are the highlights of the report:

• Travelers are to assume that they will be unable to protect their data that they may transmit over the Internet.
  
• Expect no privacy.  You're always a potential target.
• Expect all transmission to be intercepted.  
• Expect viruses, malware, and spyware to be installed at all ports of electronic access - cafes, hotels, etc.  And expect all portal media to be infected if they were connected to to these access points.  
• Assume foreign authorities may find an excuse for inspections of laptops or portal media for the sole purpose of copying information.  

I stated those main points to highlight what a mobile worker could be up against.  The later part of the report, "protective measures", offer tips on what to do to avoid being a victim of information theft.  The gist of the report recommendation is this:  use common sense.  

• If you don't have to bring your laptop overseas, leave it at home. 
• Assume your portal media is infected with malicious software.  Plug it into your network back home can make things worse.
• Use the best encryption available to you to protect your data.  

While I generally believe in our government's ability to provide for the common defense and against terrorism, I believe it our duty to be pro-active in matters where it's within our control.  I hope the information and guidelines help you protect your data whether you're a mobile warrior in the private or public sector.


The US Cyber Consequences Unit also offered a similar guideline to protect your data.  They help you assess whether you are a potential target of cyber theft, how to do a presentation without a laptop, and how best to secure your portable devices.  Also for your consideration:

• USCCU Laptop Travel Guidelines
• USCCU Cyber-Security Check List (also available in German/Italian)

I understand the sensitive geopolitical nature of making such an announcement so close to the Games.  I'll leave the politics to the politicians.  Luckily for the rest of us, we don't have to worry about that.