This Week in Tech: The CIA-WikiLeaks Fiasco Takes Center Stage

No one ever accused WikiLeaks of being quiet.

In what should have been a relatively quiet week in the tech world, this week saw the arrival of 8,761 documents WikiLeaks claims shows that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has developed and obtained zero-day exploits for iOS devices. Even more worrisome, the agency has “lost control” of the majority of this malware.

Soon after, Apple was forced to admit that some of the vulnerabilities mentioned in the unauthenticated documents remained unfixed, though many have been patched. By the end of the week, Cupertino began beefing up its App Store requirements for developers, perhaps as a way to stymie would-be hackers from causing havoc using the alleged malware.

In a bit of good news, WikiLeaks promises to share whatever code it uncovered with tech companies to patch the remaining vulnerabilities.

Where We Are

Apple’s likely to announce its annual springtime event very soon, making this a great time to summarize where things stand for the company’s most important products in 2017.

Since the start of the year, AppAdvice has regularly been updating roundup posts for the 2017 iPhone and iPad. On Friday, we published our roundup for the “Apple Watch Series 3” for the first time.

Based on the ever-growing list of rumors, the following are a few key points about each of the three product lines:

Up to four new iPad Pros could be announced as early as this month, including updated versions of the 9.7- and 12.9-inch tablets, plus a new one measuring 10.5-inches across. We could also see the first “7.9-inch iPad Pro.”

Details

• The 10.5-inch iPad Pro could take up the same amount of room as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro model because of a smaller bezel.
• Pricing for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro could start at around $599, which might mean the second-generation 9.7-inch iPad Pro could launch at $499.

Apple is almost certainly going to announce at least three new handsets before the end of the year. This could include a new 5.8-inch model, called the “iPhone 8” or “iPhone Edition,” plus updated versions of the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus.

Details

• The 5.8-inch iPhone 8 model may feature an OLED display with an “active screen area” of between 5.1 and 5.2-inches. This model could include a camera and Touch ID integrated with the display, long-range wireless charging, and water resistance improved to IP68
• The “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus” are likely to keep the same look as the current models and once again feature an LCD display. These features could also include wireless charging.

The Apple Watch Series 3 should debut alongside the new iPhones, probably in September. This version should look similar to the 2016 models.

Details

• Instead of using a touch-on-lens screen, the Series 3 could offer a glass-film touchscreen.
• Focus may be on battery life and overall performance improvements

Here are some other headlines from the past week:

• The New Fitbit Alta HR Features Continuous Heart Rate Tracking
• When It Comes to Languages, Apple Is Winning the Voice-Assistant Wars

In recent weeks, Christine Chan has added four new titles to the AppAdvice app review library, including:

• Unearth Ancient Secrets in After the End: Forsaken Destiny
• Get Lost in the Immersive World of Pan-Pan
• Breakforcist is the Most Important Meal of the Day
• Match-Three Meets Hack-n-Slash Action in Tavern Guardians

See also: Complete Wrap-Up Of GDC 2017 With Best Of Show.

Here’s a small sample of what was discussed at GearAdvice during the past week:

• The Lofree Mechanical Keyboard is both Nostalgic and Practical
• The Compact ZENS Apple Watch Powerbank Packs a Big Punch
• The Raden Luggage Lets You Charge Your iOS Device While You Travel
• The Best Home Security Cameras That Work With Smartphones
• The QardioArm is a Great Portable Smart Blood Pressure Monitor

Be sure to visit GearAdvice for the latest accessory news, reviews, and deals.

Will this be the week Apple announces its spring event? Will iOS 10.3 finally launch to the public? Will new details over the CIA-WikiLeaks fiasco surface? These questions and more could be answered during the week ahead. Stay tuned.