Former President Barack Obama has revealed the Apple Inc.’s AAPL iPhone apps he frequently uses, offering a glimpse into his life after the Oval Office.
What Happened: As commander-in-chief, Obama was confined to a Blackberry due to stringent security measures. Now, he has embraced the iPhone, a device off-limits during his time in office.
This detail emerged in a recent interview with The Verge’s Nilay Patel, who inquired about the apps on Obama’s iPhone home screen, reported Business Insider.
Among his favorites, “Words With Friends” and “NBA League Pass” stand out, with Obama jokingly admitting that they might get a bit too much of his attention.
“If you asked the ones that I probably go to more than I should, I might have to put Words With Friends on there, where I think I waste a lot of time, and maybe my NBA League Pass,” Obama said, adding “But I try not to overdo it on those.”
While he didn’t divulge his choices for email or music apps, it’s apparent he enjoys both word puzzles and following basketball.
When it comes to the iOS versus Android rivalry, Obama remains impartial.
He quipped about not caring whether text messages arrive in blue or green bubbles, indicating no particular allegiance to either mobile operating system.
This conversation also touched on various topics, including artificial intelligence. Obama voiced his doubts about AI’s potential to supplant human ingenuity in creative fields such as music and art, though he acknowledged its usefulness in more routine areas like buying jeans, the report noted.
Why It Matters: Obama’s affinity for technology has been evident since his presidency. He made headlines back in 2015 when he sent out his first tweet from an iPhone, saying, “Hello, Twitter! It’s Barack. Really! Six years in, they’re finally giving me my own account.”
At the time, Apple used to get little security love from the government. In May 2013, iOS 6 was granted the FIPS 140-2 certification, meaning low-level classified documents can be shared on devices running on this version. Later, iPhones and iPads were cleared for military use by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Fast forward to 2019, when Donald Trump was President, it became clear that he uses a government-issued iPhone, reported Reuters.
In February 2022, President Joe Biden was spotted using an iPhone with a special golden presidential seal on the rear, reported Gizchina.
Photo by Evan El-Amin on Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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