With all the fuss about the recent iCloud hack, Apple CEO Tim Cook used his second interview with PBS host Charlie Rose to address issues around privacy. In addition to telling Rose and consumers how Apple is protecting your information, Cook also discussed Apple's policies on employment diversity and its philosophy to instill change.
The Rose interview, which is the second part of a two-part mini-series, airs tonight on PBS.
Talking about privacy, Cook emphasizes that Apple is not in the business to collect information about its users.
The Mac, the iPhone, and the Apple Watch are the products that Apple makes and sells, not the collection of personal and private information, Mr. Cook says. "You're not our product."
And leading the charge for equality, Cook went on to talk about Apple's workforce diversity, an issue that he has taken a stance on before.
"Everyone deserves respect," Cook said.
Will you be watching Tim Cook on Charlie Rose tonight?
Reader comments
Tim Cook opens up about privacy and diversity at Apple in latest interview with Charlie Rose
I always enjoy listening what Mr. Cook has to say. That being said I don't agree with his take on hiring diversity, it's far too dynamic of a subject to base it's merit on the notion that diversity in thinking creates a larger pool of ideas. That's just too great of an oversimplification of the subject. Hiring should be virtuous and indifferent. If that means X amount of people can't make the cut so be it. You cannot force it.
That's not true actually. Europe forced it, 30% of board members on most EU corporate boards must be women. Studies have shown that diverse boards produce better quarterly and long term results. I'm not saying that is what we should mandate in the US, just pointing out that it can be forced.
Here's the difference. Google reads your mail and collects information from it and sells it. Apple does not read your mail so it cannot glean anything from it. Same with messages. Android is free to OEMs for a reason, Google's product and income stream is from collecting your personal data and selling it. Anyone who truly values privacy does not use Google products. Period.
No.
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It amazes me that he is all about diversity, but isn't man enough to come out of the closet already.
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"Man enough"? His sexuality is none of anyone's fucking business. He has no obligation to share it with others or "come out of the closet". He clearly doesn't define himself with it. He defines himself as Apple's CEO, and demanding he "come out of the closet" is just fucking classless. He has as much right to privacy in his personal life as you do, no matter his position. There's absolutely no contradiction with promoting diversity, yet not having a need to share his sexuality with you. It's irrelevant.
What amazes ME is how many anti-Apple trolls have the iMore app installed on their Android devices, and religiously post from it.
Bravo! I will remember to up vote this post when I get to my Mac.
You also pointed me to a potential cause for a recent shift I've noticed here at iMore.
iMore had always been, for the most part, seemingly immune to the hostility of other Apple blogs. But I have recently noticed that change, and many disrespectful comments. Perhaps this is a side effect of inviting so many Andriod fans to join our community with a dedicated app, perhaps not. And, in no way, am I saying it is only android fans that are guilty of this, it is not.
So, I beg you all, let's return to the respect we once had for each other, understand that people aren't dumb for their choice in technology, and get back to enjoying sharing technology discussions!
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You are just mad that you can't have the AC app on your iPhone. You have to deal with the website to troll.
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Diversity is code for anti white. It's only bad if white people are doing well and outnumbering minorities even if it's 100% on merit and picking the most qualified people
Agreed Taco50, and more than that, Tim Cooks' notion of diversity and inclusiveness, translates into Intolerance for the much larger Christian community who are appalled at his recent activism. He preaches "respect for all" but it only applies to those who agree with his lifestyle and beliefs. (As is typical) I love the products but have lost all respect for the company under Tim Cook.
..and you sound like an extremist, xenophobic, bigot. Cook has done nothing but INCREASE respect for Apple, at least from decent, sane human beings (unlike yourself). Go look at Apple's leadership page. Does that look like a company run by a CEO that hates white people/christians? Cook has only preached tolerance. Just because that offends you, and you actually despise intolerance, that does not make him intolerant. It just makes you a bigot.
well you prove my point, abuse, name calling and insults do not make an argument. However, it's all I hear.
Damn... It hurts my heart to see such negativity coming from an apple community. Taco50, (and others in this post) diversity does NOT mean anti-white. If this were a perfect world, then merit and qualifications WOULD determine your hires. The problem is that the world is not perfect. I have seen unfair hiring practices on my own job and many others. They'd check Facebook pages to see what someone "looks like." No kidding. It takes a huge set of balls for any company to willfully put itself under the microscope and admit that it can do better. It's not about hiring people who are less qualified. It's about making the company more attractive to qualified workers from all over. Yesterday, a guy from Jamaica may not have thought he could work for apple. Today, he does. Hats off to Tim Cook.
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Are you saying Tim Cook is "anti-white"? Are you that fucking stupid?
Can you prove that such a situation is based on merit? Why do you assume that if white people are outnumbering minorities it is not because of some external, non-merit factor?
iAd
iTunes
iBooks
News Stand
App Store
All of these services have some of your data. While they are not Apple's primary business there is data ther that tells about your likes and dislikes which if combined with other data can tell an awful lot about you. If Apple were Google selling this data would be their business model. Today, it's not for sale. That doesn't mean their next CEO won't sell the data.
He interviews like a politician. Its like he was just waiting to hit on his next scheduled talking point.
"Making great products is not enough. We want to enrich peoples lives".
Oh puleeez.
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What interviews have you been watching? Apple have professed enrichment for many years and have been guided by that exact statement. They haven't flip flopped on issues in pursuit of some political agenda.
Not sure if I want the kind of enrichment he has in mind.
The Cook haters in this thread are truly pathetic, pouncing on absolutely everything, and nothing. Grow up. Maybe he truly believes this? Everything I've seen and heard from the man makes me believe he does, and is actually genuine in this belief. Apple products HAVE enriched my life, and the lives of millions of others I'd wager.
Its a phone dude. Or a MP3 player. Or a computer. Enriched your life? Your life being enriched is a byproduct of technology. Technology, of which yours happens to be made by Apple, enriches lives.
When the iphone cures cancer, give me a call.
"Talking about privacy, Cook emphasizes that Apple is not in the business to collect information about its users." - if they are not in that business, then why do they do it? Seems like the CEO isn't quite sure what his company does, unless he is implying they do it for fun.
Seems like you're implying the CEO of a Apple is wrong without any accompanying evidence. Until you can prove him guilty, I'll take his word over yours.
They do collect information, including reserving the right to share some with third parties. See here:
http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/
That is not their *primary* business, but they do it, and they do it for business reasons.
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And? Cook did not say they collect ZERO information. He stated that it's not what their business is based on, which is true and makes sense. There's a difference. Of course Apple collects some info. But compared to the info others (ie. Google) collect, it's extremely limited.
No argument...just clarifying for parent post, who seemed to be taking the stance that Apple does not collect data.
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Safari crashes? They collect information about your Mac. Apple reviews the log and determines it is an issue with the Silverlight plugin. So they share this data with Microsoft.
Not once has any personal information about me been shared, it is anonymous, and, most importantly, not sold. We are not the product.
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Icloud is enough evidence for me
From my Galaxy Note 3 On T-Mobile via iMore App
Ahh.. they make gobs of money from hardware, he said so.. he seems to know very well what his company does.
Tim Cook is lost and truly delusional
From my Galaxy Note 3 On T-Mobile via iMore App
How you figure that?
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He's on a Galaxy Note 3.. thats the default tag line.. he didn't actually type anything.
Ahahaha that was awesome
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LOL
You should hate the Galaxy Note 3 it's a worldwide product revered by many. It makes the iphone 6+ look stupid and it's not 2012.
So imagine what the Galaxy Note 4 will do to your stupid iphone 6+ it's a sad joke truthfully.
From my Galaxy Note 3 On T-Mobile via iMore App
Wow, what an original comment. I have not heard that 2012 comment before. Please, enlighten me as to what it refers to. I think the issue most Apple haters have when Apple "copies" their product of choice is this. Your phone/product may have been first, but Apple's patience allowed them to do it right.
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Yep and I know they sold the shit out of those Galaxy Notes just like iPhone 6 sales to date too.
So a "truly lost and delusional" person is running the most successful company in the world, which just had 4+million pre-orders of it's latest product in a single day, and has the highest brand equity, revenues, profits, sales, and consumer satisfaction of any other tech company on earth.
You sound like a truly sad troll.
You sound pretty stupid to say the least didn't Apple hire him so that means they existed long before they knew of a Tim Cock.
Stop trying to make him out to be more than what he is. He's no Steve Jobs that's for sure.
Regardless the Galaxy Note products piss all over any silly iphone, just like the Gear S shits on any crappy iwatch,
Don't hate appreciate Samsung makes Apple look good.
From my Galaxy Note 3 On T-Mobile via iMore App
Did you watch either part of the interview? He admits he isn't. He doesn't want to be. He doesn't need to be. The company has matured. And news flash. Steve Jobs wasn't perfect, released some duds, but his most important decision was to appoint Tim Cook CEO. Maybe they won't be the Wall Street darling they have been in recent years, but they are a solid, we'll run company.
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