2,000 iPhones given for free by Japanese gov’t to passengers stuck on ship due to coronavirus

The Japanese government gave away 2,000 free iPhones to passengers stranded on a cruise ship due to the COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel coronavirus. The country’s health minister stated that 355 people onboard the ship have tested positive for the virus.

The smartphones were handed to each cabin so passengers could access an app made by the government, as per Macotakara via 9to5mac last Friday, Feb.14.

The said app from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will allow people on the quarantined ship to consult with a doctor. Smartphones registered outside of Japan are unable to access the app. This also prompted the ministry to hand out the devices to the passengers.

According to the report, the 2,000 devices were handed out to ensure that each cabin had one unit.

The ship arrived near the Japanese coast earlier this month with more than 3,700 people on board from over 50 countries. It was placed under quarantine after a passenger who left the vessel in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus.

The Japanese government may begin testing the travelers for the disease from Feb. 18, the captain said. Passengers with negative results will be allowed to disembark the ship starting Feb. 21.


The disease has already killed over 1,000 people and infected more than 42,000 worldwide. The World Health Organization named it COVID-19 after declaring the outbreak as a global health emergency. Ryan Arcadio/JB


source: technology.inquirer.net

Towards an iPhone with no ports by 2021

One of the future versions of the iPhone, which will probably not be released before 2021, will have no physical connections, opines famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF Securities, whose focus is Apple developments.

According to Kuo, Apple plans to definitively drop its Lightning port and simply intends not to replace it. Kuo is convinced that Apple has decided not to replace its Lightning port with one of the USB-C connectors, which are a standard feature of the Android ecosystem.


In the next two years, at least one iPhone (probably the most high-end one) will have absolutely no physical ports, and will rely on wireless for charging and data transfers. The problem is that until now, inductive charging is slower than charging with a wired connection. So there is little chance that in the near future Apple will be able to compete with the likes of Vivo or Realme, both of which are already offering hyper-fast wired charging systems.

At the same time, the analyst once again indicated that Apple is working on an iPhone SE 2, which is due for release in the first half of 2021. It will be equipped with a 5.5- or 6.1-inch screen, with a full-screen design that has a smaller notch than current models.

Finally, let us not forget that earlier this year Kuo suggested that all of the new iPhones to be presented in 2020 (and by inference thereafter) would be 5G compatible. RGA

source: technology.inquirer.net

iOS 13 The Anti Hacking Operating System

Apple hit back Friday at a Google research report suggesting iPhones may have been targeted by a long-running hacking operation, calling it inaccurate and misleading as they prepare to launch iOS 13.

Apple spokesman Fred Sainz said in a statement the research released by Google created a “false impression” that large numbers of iPhone users may have been compromised.

Sainz said that contrary to what Google claimed, the incident was a “narrowly focused” attack which affected “fewer than a dozen websites that focus on content related to the Uighur community, an ethnic minority in China.

“Regardless of the scale of the attack, we take the safety and security of all users extremely seriously,” he wrote.

“Google’s post, issued six months after iOS patches were released, creates the false impression of ‘mass exploitation’ to ‘monitor the private activities of entire populations in real-time,’ stoking fear among all iPhone users that their devices had been compromised. This was never the case.”


Researchers with Google’s Project Zero security task force said last week that an “indiscriminate” hacking operation that targeted iPhones used websites to implant malicious software to access photos, user locations, and other data.

“Simply visiting the hacked site was enough for the exploit server to attack your device, and if it was successful, install a monitoring implant,” said Project Zero’s Ian Beer.

Sainz said Apple believes that the website attacks were operational for roughly two months, not two years as Google implied.

“We fixed the vulnerabilities in question in February — iOS 13 working extremely quickly to resolve the issue just 10 days after we learned about it,” Sainz said.

“When Google approached us, we were already in the process of fixing the exploited bugs.

Security is a never-ending journey and our customers can be confident we are working for them .”- iphone iOS 13 to be released next week.

rl/acb

© Agence France-Presse

Apple unveils iPhone 11 models with dual cameras

CUPERTINO - Apple unveiled its iPhone 11 models Tuesday, touting dual cameras and ultra-wide lens capabilities as it updated its popular smartphone lineup.

The newest handsets come as Apple seeks to spur new upgrades in a slumping global smartphone market.

The new iPhones are "jam packed with new capabilities and an incredible new design," Apple chief executive Tim Cook told a launch event in Cupertino, California. — Agence France-Presse

Samsung ditches headphone jack after jabs at jackless rivals

NEW YORK –  Samsung executives have long poked fun at rivals for ditching the headphone jack in smartphones. With the new Galaxy Note 10, the company will now be doing exactly the same thing.

The Note 10, announced Wednesday, squeezes in more battery power and other goodies, but at the cost of the familiar old jack.

So now the company is doing an about-face and declaring that many people use wireless headphones anyway.

Samsung, which for years has pushed bigger and bigger displays, is also introducing a smaller version of the Note for those who think phones have just gotten too big.

The new Note models will come out Aug. 23. The main model is being called the Note 10 Plus and will have a display measuring 6.8 inches diagonally.

Though the display is bigger, the overall size is about the same as last year’s 6.4-inch Note 9. To accomplish that, Samsung shrank down even more of the bezel surrounding the display.

The smaller, 6.3-inch version will be called the Note 10 and will sell for almost $950, or $150 less than the Plus. It’s designed for those who want the Note’s signature stylus without its once-signature size.

“You hit a certain point where you can’t get much bigger without being physically too large to hold,” Technalysis Research analyst Bob O’Donnell said. “That’s the challenge they are running into.”

Hardware innovation in mobile devices has been slowing for years. Samsung is addressing that with a foldable model, with twice the display when unfolded. The Samsung Fold is coming in September after Samsung made a few design changes to address problems with reviewers’ phones breaking.

Apple is expected to release new iPhones next month. A version that works with next-generation 5G cellular networks isn’t expected. Samsung will have a 5G version of the Note 10 Plus starting at almost $1300.

The Note 10 Plus will have a 7.5% boost in battery capacity over the Note 9, though Samsung’s high-end phones have already been promising all-day battery life. Samsung made no references to the headphone jack during its 70-minute announcement event in New York.

Samsung officials told reporters separately that while the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack might seem small, every smidgeon of saved space can help extend battery life.

Samsung is including wired headphones that plug into the phone’s USB-C data and charging port. An adapter for other wired headphones is sold separately for $10. Apple and Google also have ditched the standard headphone jack.

But O’Donnell noted the irony: “If you guys gave everybody else grief for doing it, why are you doing it?”

Beyond that, the Note 10 phones introduce new stylus features, including the ability to flip through music and photo libraries by gesturing with the stylus in the air. The phones bring a wider-angle lens already found in the S10 and use software to make audio appear louder — and thus closer — in video recordings when zooming in.

And by connecting a Note 10 to a Windows or Mac computer with a USB cable, users can interact with phone apps there and drag and drop files between devices.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appeared briefly to expand on a partnership with Samsung. The collaboration includes giving Note users the ability to receive and respond to text messages and take phone calls from a Windows computer. Apple has long offered similar features, but only for its own devices such as the iPhone and Mac. /gsg

source: technology.inquirer.net

Design chief departure adds to uncertainty at Apple

WASHINGTON, United States — The departure of chief designer Jony Ive adds to uncertainty at Apple as the California tech giant shifts into new segments like services and streaming media amid a slowdown in sales of the hugely profitable iPhone.

Ive, the driving force behind the trend-setting design of the iPhone and other Apple devices, announced Thursday he would leave Apple later this year to create his own firm, while continuing to collaborate with the company.

But Ive’s departure highlights Apple’s move to de-emphasize its hardware — with the global smartphone market largely saturated and increasingly competitive — and focus on music, streaming television, digital payments and other services and subscriptions.

“The major question now going forward is around future product innovation with one of the key visionaries of the Apple brand gone,” said Daniel Ives at Wedbush Securities in a research note.

“In our opinion this news only adds to the current agita around the Apple story as the company is branching out into television and gaming.”

The analyst added that Ive “is leaving a hole in the company and is clearly irreplaceable as he has been one of the most important figures at Apple throughout the past few decades.”

Prepared for transition? 

Other analysts said Apple is well-prepared for Ive’s transition and that it may even allow the company to benefit from fresh ideas.

Avi Greengart of the research and consulting firm Techsponential said that while Ive was instrumental to Apple’s success in product design, he had been gradually shifting into new areas such as its retail stores and new Cupertino campus, handing over products to his proteges.

“He’s been halfway out the door for a while,” Greengart told AFP

“The design team at Apple has remained consistent, and I don’t worry that all of a sudden Apple’s design is going to decline significantly.”

Design has been and will continue to be a major focus for Apple, Greengart said, noting that there will be many design challenges as Apple moves more heavily into wearable tech and other kinds of products.

“Wearable technology is where Apple already has a big lead in the smartwatch space and it is investing heavily in augmented reality for mobile,” Greengart said.

He said there is “an intense design challenge” in wearables, notably for the segment of eyewear in which Google and others have struggled.

“Investing in design is something Apple can absolutely do and can’t afford not to do,” he said.
With Ive handing over the role of product innovation,  “this has a chance to reinvigorate parts of Apple design,” Greengart said.

Who’s in charge? 

British-born Ive joined Apple in 1992 and was a key collaborator of co-founder Steve Jobs in designing the iPod, iPhone, iPad and Macbook as well as the iOS software system for Apple devices.

The company said its design team leaders Evans Hankey and Alan Dye will now report to Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.

John Gruber, a software designer who writes the tech-focused Daring Fireball blog, said the new structure raises questions about Apple’s design culture going forward.

“It makes me queasy to see that Apple’s chief designers are now reporting to operations,” Gruber wrote.

“I don’t worry that Apple is in trouble because Jony Ive is leaving; I worry that Apple is in trouble because he’s not being replaced.”

Gene Munster and Andrew Murphy of the investment firm Loup Ventures said in a note to clients they were “puzzled” by the new design team structure but expect that to be temporary.

“Apple’s core competency of design is unmatched and from its culture of design-first thinking, the right leader will emerge in time. Thanks to Jony Ive,” they wrote. /ee
Agence France-Presse

source: technology.inquirer.net

Top iPhone games: ‘Amaze!!!’, ‘Pick Me Up’, ‘Roller Splat!’

Tile painting game “Amaze!!!”, “Pick Me Up” and “Roller Splat!” prove popular worldwide, while “Words Story” finds favor in South East Asia and “Run Race 3D” could spread around the globe after taking pole position on the United States iPhone games chart on April 2, 2019.

Two very similar tile-painting games are tussling for supremacy in North American, European and other English-speaking iOS App Stores worldwide.


In both “Amaze!!!” and “Roller Splat!”, players move a colored ball around a tiled level, with the aim of painting each and every blank square as they go.


Both released in February, with French-made “Roller Splat!” toting more impressive graphics, hitting version 1.0 and reaching top spot in several regional charts before Israeli-produced “Amaze!!!”.

Yet it’s now “Amaze!!!” that is clinching top spot in the Canadian, French and United Kingdom App Store game charts, ahead of its forerunner “Roller Splat!”, at 11 a.m. on April 2, 2019.

On the other hand, it’s “Roller Splat!” that is ahead in Germany, South Africa and the Netherlands with a number one App Store rank in the Games category.

“Roller Splat!” is also close behind its rival in France and the U.K., with number two Games chart rank, one place ahead in the United States at number three and 11 spots in advance in Japan at number two.

Another iOS game currently riding high in iPhone charts around the world is ride-sharing driving sim “Pick Me Up”, in which players simply tap and hold to drive, release to brake and collect customers and cash from roads overlaid on a map background.

It is the top download in Singapore, second in Canada and South Africa, third in the U.K. and Australia, fourth in France and the Netherlands and fifth in Germany.

Guessing game “Draw It”, target puzzle “Twist Hit!” and ricochet challenge “Mr Bullet – Spy Puzzles” are also regular occurrences in regional App Store Game chart top fives.

Meanwhile, stick-figure prison break-out puzzle “Word Story” wins general approval in South East Asia, appearing as a top five download in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, while colorful wall-jumping multiplayer “Run Race 3D” is poised to become the next global success after nailing pole position in the U.S., showing good momentum elsewhere.

These games can be downloaded in the iOS App Store as they battle for the top spot in the charts. CE/JB


source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple opens new chapter amid weakening iPhone demand

SAN FRANCISCO  — Apple hoped to offset slowing demand for iPhones by raising the prices of its most important product, but that strategy seems to have backfired after sales sagged during the holiday shopping season.

Results released Tuesday revealed the magnitude of the iPhone slump — a 15 percent drop in revenue from the previous year. That decline in Apple’s most profitable product caused Apple’s total earnings for the October-December quarter to dip slightly to $20 billion.

Now, CEO Tim Cook is grappling with his toughest challenge since replacing co-founder Steve Jobs 7 ½ years ago. Even as he tries to boost iPhone sales, Cook also must prove that Apple can still thrive even if demand doesn’t rebound.


It figures to be an uphill battle, given Apple’s stock has lost one-third of its value in less than four months, erasing about $370 billion in shareholder wealth.

Cook rattled Wall Street in early January by disclosing the company had missed its own revenue projections for the first time in 15 years. The last time that happened, the iPod was just beginning to transform Apple.

“This is the defining moment for Cook,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives. “He has lost some credibility on Wall Street, so now he will have to do some handholding as the company enters this next chapter.”

The results for the October-December period were slightly above the expectations analysts lowered after Cook’s Jan. 2 warning. Besides the profit decline, Apple’s revenue fell 5 percent from the prior year to $84 billion.


It marked the first time in more than two years that Apple’s quarterly revenue has dropped from the past year. The erosion was caused by the decline of the iPhone, whose sales plunged to $52 billion, down by more than $9 billion from the previous year.

The past quarter’s letdown intensified the focus on Apple’s forecast for the opening three months of the year as investors try to get a better grasp on iPhone sales until the next models are released in autumn.

Apple predicted its revenue for the January-March period will range from $55 billion to $59 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been anticipating revenue of about $59 billion.

Investors liked what they read and heard, helping Apple’s stock recoup some of their recent losses. The stock gained nearly 6 percent to $163.50 in extended trading after the report came out.

“We wouldn’t change our position with anyone’s,” Cook reassured analysts during a conference call reviewing the past quarter and the upcoming months.

The company didn’t forecast how many iPhones it will sell, something Apple has done since the product first hit the market in 2007 and transformed society, as well as technology.

Apple is no longer disclosing how many iPhones it shipped after the quarter is completed, a change that Cook announced in November. That unexpected move raised suspicions that Apple was trying to conceal a forthcoming slump in iPhone sales — fears that were realized during the holiday season.

Cook traces most of Apple’s iPhone problems to a weakening economy in China, the company’s second biggest market behind the U.S. The company is also facing tougher competition in China, where homegrown companies such as Huawei and Xiaomi have been winning over consumers in that country with smartphones that have many of the same features as iPhones at lower prices.

Although a trade war started by President Donald Trump last year has hurt China and potentially caused some consumers there to boycott U.S. products, many analysts believe the iPhone’s malaise stems from other issues too.

Among them are higher prices — Apple’s most expensive iPhone now costs $1,350 — for models that aren’t that much better than the previous generation, giving consumers little incentive to stop using the device they already own until it wears out. Apple also gave old iPhones new life last by offering to replace aging batteries for $29, a 70 percent discount.

“The upgrade cycle has extended, there is no doubt about that,” Cook conceded.

Apple is banking that investors will realize the company can still reap huge profits by selling various services on the 1.4 billion devices running on its software.

That’s one reason why Cook has been touting the robust growth of Apple’s division that collects commissions from paid apps, processes payments, and sells hardware warranty plans and music streaming subscriptions. Apple Music now has more than 50 million subscribers, second to Spotify’s 87 million streaming subscribers through September.

Apple is also preparing to launch a video streaming service to compete against Netflix, though Cook said he wasn’t ready to provide details Tuesday.

The company’s services revenue in the past quarter climbed 19 percent from the prior year to $10.9 billion — more than any other category besides the iPhone.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple lists price for iPhone XR repairs — and it hurts

Four days before its official launch, Apple has unveiled the price to repair an iPhone XR screen: $199 (over P10,600).

The iPhone XR repair costs seem expensive until you compare them to that of the iPhone X, XS and XS Max; then it seems like you’re getting a real bargain.


On Monday, the service pricing of the iPhone XR, which officially releases on Oct. 26, was added to the Apple site: screen repair and other damages will cost you $199 (over P10,600) and $399 (over P21,000), respectively. With the phone itself costing $749 (around P40,000), the damage repair could cost over half of what you paid in the first place, so it’s best to invest in a tough case and sturdy screen protector, especially since the Apple warranty doesn’t’ cover, “accidental damage or mishandling.”

To fix just the screen of the iPhone XS Max, you’ll have to drop over a hundred more than for the iPhone XR totaling $329 (nearly P18,000), and other damage repairs will cost you $599 (over P32,000). However, if you do have AppleCare+, a screen replacement for all iPhone models, the XR, XS Max, and everything else, will only cost $29 (around P1,500) and all other damages will total $99 (around P5,300). JB

source: inquirer.net

Huawei gives out free power banks to people lining up for new iPhone

Huawei pulled a fast one over Apple when the company started giving out free power banks to people lined up to purchase a new iPhone in Singapore.

The event took place on the eve of Sept. 20 at Apple’s flagship Orchard Road store, the night before it opened its doors to customers. A long line of fans had camped outside the Apple store for a chance to be among the first to get one of the latest iPhones, reports CNET.


As people waited in line, Huawei representatives started giving out over 200 10,000-milliampere power banks for free. If that wasn’t cheeky enough, the Chinese phone maker also added a custom message on the free powerbanks’ packaging, which read, “Here’s a power bank. You’ll need it. Courtesy of Huawei.”


The company said the handouts were offers of “respite from the weather and grueling wait.” Singapore’s weather is known to go into the extremes, while the wait outside Apple stores following the launch of a new iPhone tend to be very long. The combination of both factors have the potential to test a person and his current smartphone’s endurance.

It is also worth mentioning that battery capacities for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are 2,658 and 3,174 milliamperes, respectively. Meanwhile, Huawei’s flagship P2 Pro boasts a generous 4,000-milliampere battery pack.

Huawei recently passed Apple as the second-biggest smartphone seller in July, according to a report by technology analyst company Canalys. Samsung maintained its position at the top at the time of the report.

Meanwhile, some Huawei users criticized the company on its Facebook page for handing out S$98 (around P3,900) power banks to iPhone users for free instead of  Huawei users.  Alfred Bayle /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

Got P59,000? Apple shows off its most expensive iPhone yet

CUPERTINO, California — Apple unveiled three new iPhones on Wednesday, including its biggest and most expensive model yet, as the company seeks to widen the product’s appeal amid slowing sales.

CEO Tim Cook showed off the iPhone XS Max, which has a bigger screen than the one on last year’s dramatically designed model , the iPhone X. It’ll cost about $1,100 (more than P59,000), topping the iPhone X, which at $1,000 seemed jaw-dropping at the time. An updated iPhone X, now called the XS, stays at $1,000.

As with the iPhone X, both new phones have screens that run from edge to edge, an effort to maximize the display without making the phone too awkward to hold. The screen needs no backlight, so black would appear as truly black rather than simply dark. The Max model looks to be about the size of the iPhone 8 Plus, though the screen size is much larger.

The iPhone XS Max, which will be available on Sept. 21 — with orders open the week before — represents Apple’s attempt to feed consumers’ appetite for increasingly larger screens as they rely on smartphones to watch and record video and to take photos wherever they are.

By making more expensive iPhones, Apple has been able to boost its profits despite waning demand as people upgrade phones less frequently. IPhones fetched an average price of $724 during the April-June period, a nearly 20 percent increase from a year earlier.

Apple also showed off a cheaper iPhone, called the iPhone XR. It has a traditional, lower-quality screen and an aluminum body; it’s physically smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus but has a bigger screen. It’ll cost roughly $750 and come out on Oct. 26.

All three new models join the iPhone X in getting rid of the home button to make room for more screen. They will have facial-recognition technology to unlock the device.

Although it didn’t sell quite as analysts anticipated, the iPhone X still emerged as the most popular in Apple’s line-up, according to Cook. That emboldened the company to aim an even more expensive device at the affluent households that tend to gravitate to its products, especially in the U.S. and Europe.

For everyone else, many of whom are still using iPhones they purchased several years ago, there’s the XR.

“I am going to go out on a limb and say the XR is going to become Apple’s top-selling iPhone,” said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights. “It is a smart strategy to keep more people in the Apple ecosystem and get even more people to come into it.”

The next major update to the iOS will be released next Tuesday, followed a week later by a Mac software update. Both will be free to install.

Apple also announced updates that push its Apple Watch further into medical device territory. It has a larger screen and a built-in heart sensor that the company said can detect irregular heart rates and perform an electrocardiogram. The latter feature has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company said.

Ben Wood of CCS Insight said getting U.S. regulatory clearance for that is a milestone that underscores the company’s leadership in health and fitness. Typically, smartwatches are marketed as consumer devices, not medical ones needing clearance.

These features will be available to U.S. customers later this year, but Apple did not say when it would make it to the rest of the world.

In addition, Apple said the Series 4 Apple Watch will also be able to detect when someone falls — and can tell the difference between a trip and a fall. If it detects a fall and the user doesn’t respond in a minute, it’ll automatically call for help. This feature may be especially attractive to older people or those with elderly parents worried about falling when no one is around to help.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple to broaden iPhone lineup with more screen

SAN FRANCISCO – Apple is expected to unveil on Wednesday new iPhones, playing up eye-grabbing edge-to-edge screens in a bid to strengthen its position in a largely saturated global smartphone market.

Apple has remained mum about revelations planned for the event at its spaceship campus in Silicon Valley, but the timing fits its pattern of annually introducing iPhone updates.


In a first for Apple, the event will be streamed live on Twitter.

Speculation includes talk that Apple will introduce three new iPhone models infused with features from a premium iPhone X that debuted last year with a $1,000 price tag.


Top among those features will likely be edge-to-edge screens that promise to provide about 30 percent more viewing space without increasing the size of overall handsets.

“I think they are trying to set a new high bar,” analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said of new iPhones expected to offer more display without increasing the size of the handset.

“The big thing is going to be how they fit such a massive screen into such a small device.”


One new iPhone was likely to be priced slightly lower than the X model to “capture the next wave of buyers” in markets such as China, western Europe and the US, according to Moorhead.

While the iPhone has made Apple the world’s most valuable company, worth more than $1 trillion, it has slipped to third place among smartphone makers as Chinese-based Huawei has grabbed the number two spot.

Still, analysts say Apple has a formula that works with a loyal customer base and steady sales.

“Apple doesn’t have to prove anything, other than that they are willing to segment the market more,” Technalysis Research chief analyst Bob O’Donnell said, while pointing out that the company will likely be “offering a wider array of choices.”


Two of the iPhone models predicted to debut on Wednesday were expected to have prices higher than the iPhone X, which has been a hot seller.

While iPhone sales have slowed, Apple profits have risen along with the average purchase price of its handsets.

The newest and priciest iPhone “didn’t help Apple grow its user base but handsomely contributed with dollars to top line, bottom line and market cap,” Counterpoint Research analysts said in a note Tuesday.

Taking on Galaxy

Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, last month unveiled its latest flagship handset, the Galaxy Note 9, and next month Apple rival Google will hold an event at which it is likely to showcase new Android-powered top-end Pixel phones.

Google took to making its own smartphones to showcase the capabilities of the Android operating system that it makes available free of charge to handset makers. Android smartphones have come to dominate the market.

Apple’s event comes with the global smartphone market largely saturated, without a major catalyst for sales ahead of a likely rollout of 5G, or fifth generation wireless networks, expected in 2019.

Research firm IDC expects worldwide smartphone shipments to decline 0.7 percent in 2018 to 1.455 billion units, with growth likely to resume as 5G devices become available.

“We still believe the smartphone market has some healthy growth in the years to come, although finding and competing in those markets and segments is increasingly more challenging,” said IDC analyst Ryan Reith.

Apple has sold more than a billion iPhones since the first model was unveiled by late co-founder Steve Jobs in 2007.


The company is in the unique situation of controlling the hardware and software in its mobile devices, with content for users required to go through its App Store that takes a percentage of revenue.

Finding new streams

With the smartphone market showing little room for growth, Apple has been working to diversify its revenue streams with software, services and other devices including its smartwatch.

The event may see the Apple Watch getting its first significant redesign since its launch three years ago.

“I think that in the long run the watch will be a much larger business than people give it credit for; where Apple can iterate and grow,” analyst Stephen Baker of NPD said.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has touted fitness and health features of the company’s smartwatch, which dominates that market.

The culture-changing company behind the iPod, iPhone and iPad hit a historic milestone last month, becoming the first private-sector company to surpass $1 trillion in market value.

The landmark was the latest victory for Tim Cook, who faced skepticism when he took over as chief executive in 2011 from Jobs just before his death. /kga

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple becomes 1st private company worth $1 trillion

NEW YORK — Apple became the first private-sector company to surpass $1 trillion in market value Thursday following its latest surge after reporting strong quarterly earnings.

Shares of Apple briefly hit $207.05 in late-morning trading, before retreating somewhat. The gains came after the iPhone maker reported strong earnings late Tuesday that prompted a two-day rally in the share price.

The company’s stock was at $206.85, up 2.7 percent near 1620 GMT. Apple said it currently has 4.83 billion shares outstanding.

As with other landmarks — such as the Dow crossing 25,000 for the first time —the Apple record is significant because of its resonance beyond the financial universe.

“The $1 trillion mark is more psychological, and sends a message of growth and size into the market,” said Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

But many financial insiders view the record as a non-event, despite breaching the psychological barrier.

“There’s no real excitement on the trading desk,” said Karl Haeling of LBBW. “It’s one of those things that does not mean anything by itself… it’s more a testimony of the importance of Apple on the market.”

The landmark is the latest victory for Apple chief executive Tim Cook, who faced skepticism when he took reins of the iconic technology giant in 2011.

Credit to Cook 

He took over after the death of founder Steve Jobs, who was identified with launching many of Apple’s most iconic products, including the iPhone smartphone and the iPad tablet.

But Cook has gradually won accolades from investors by pumping out a series of solid financial results and further spreading Apple’s products to China and other foreign markets.


On Tuesday, Apple reported that net profit jumped more than 30 percent to $11.5 billion. Revenue in the fiscal third quarter soared 17 percent to $53.3 billion from the same period a year earlier due to sales of pricier iPhones, online services and wearable devices.

The record also cements the continued supremacy of US technology companies to the broader market, with other large technology giants Amazon, Google-parent Alphabet, Microsoft and Facebook regularly rounding out the top five in market

Apple is the first private sector company to reach this level, but state oil company PetroChina briefly broke the $1 trillion barrier in 2007 during its initial public offering, but has since dropped back down. /ee

source: technology.inquirer.net

Upcoming budget-friendly iPhone may have thinner bezel than iPhone X

An upcoming budget-friendly iPhone may have a thinner bezel than the high-end iPhone X.

The reported budget-friendly, 6.1-inch LCD iPhone may get thinner bezels through a piece of technology called “Full Active LCD” from Japan Display, according to supply-chain outlet Macotakara via 9to5Mac.

Japan Display’s Full Active LCD technology comes with the proprietary Pixel Eyes feature, which essentially allows for thinner displays on devices. A Full Active screen also makes a thinner bezel possible. The upcoming 6.1-inch iPhone may have a bezel as thin as 0.5 millimeter. As a point of reference, the iPhone X has a 1-mm bezel.

The Japanese company introduced mass production of its Full Active LCDs in 2017, according to a statement. Given the amount of time it takes to adopt a new technology, it appears timely for new iPhones to incorporate these new displays.

Meanwhile, Macotakara mentioned Apple may have encountered production issues with the 6.1-inch devices. This means the release of the the 6.1-inch iPhones may get pushed back to November.  Alfred Bayle /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

YouTube tests out an ‘Explore Tab’ of its own

YouTube is at it again, experimenting with a new feature on a small group of its users. The last time it experimented in this manner, it prompted a backlash from the Creator community due to a “lack of communication,” an issue which has since been addressed in a blog post from CEO Susan Wojcicki.

This time around, the company has gone about it with a slightly different approach, communicating its plans for a new Explore Tab through various social media channels.


The new Explore Tab rolled out to 1 percent of iPhone users on Monday, replacing the Trending section.

As with the tab in Instagram, this space hopes to introduce users to new channels, topics or creators based on what they’ve previously watched. This may sound like the Home tab, however that’s where previously viewed material is shown, rather than personalized recommendations.

The feature is explained on Creator Insider, an informal channel started by YouTube employees. Wojcicki notes that this is where the team can post weekly updates and respond to concerns, while it also “provides a more behind-the-scenes look at some of (its) product launches.”

It has yet to be seen whether this will ever roll out globally; for now, it remains an experiment. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

How Apple’s app store changed our world

SAN FRANCISCO — A decade ago, Apple opened a store peddling iPhone apps, unlocking the creativity of software developers and letting users truly make their mobile devices their own.

The resulting explosion of phone apps — there are now more than 2 million for the iPhone alone — has changed daily life for billions of people around the world.

It has unleashed new ways for us to work and play — and to become so distracted that we sometimes forget to look up from our screens.

It has created new industries — think ride-hailing services like Uber, which would be unimaginable without mobile apps — and pumped up demand for software developers and coding schools.

But it has also opened the door to an age of technology anxiety, rife with concerns that apps are serving us a little too well and holding our attention whether we want them to or not.

In the beginning

None of that was going on when Apple’s app store debuted 10 years ago Tuesday. At the time, mobile phones were largely a take-it-or-leave it proposition, with features programmed by their manufacturers and customization mostly limited to a choice between tinny electronic ringtones.

The iPhone itself was still in its infancy, with only 6 million devices sold during the device’s first year. Then came the App Store, which offered 500 programs users could take or leave themselves. During its first weekend, people downloaded 10 million apps — many of them games.

Apple competitors Google, Amazon and Microsoft soon launched their own app stores. Together, these companies now offer roughly 7 million apps . Apple, meanwhile, has now sold more than a billion iPhones .

The app economy

That app tsunami, and the riches it generated, spawned new economic opportunities. Billions of dollars flowed into startups dependent on their apps, from Uber to Snapchat to Spotify to game makers like Angry Birds creator Rovio. Opportunities for software developers blossomed as well.

Apple perhaps benefited most of all. Its “free” apps usually display advertising or make money from subscriptions or other in-app purchases, while others charge users to download. Apple takes a cut of this action, sometimes as much as 30 percent.

The app store is now the fasting growing part of Apple’s business. Together with other Apple services, the app store generated $33 billion in revenue over the year that ended in March. The company says it has paid out more than $100 billion to developers during the past decade.


The other side of apps

For all the possibilities apps have allowed, there’s also a dark side.

The Center for Humane Technology, an advocacy group formed by early employees of Google and Facebook, charges that many apps are engineered specifically to capture our attention, often to our detriment. That makes them “part of a system designed to addict us ,” the group says.

Apple says it shares similar concerns. To help, the company is adding new tools to the iPhone to track and control the usage of the most time-consuming apps. /ee

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple warns employees to stop leaking information on future products

Apple issued a warning to all its employees to avoid information leaks on future products.

A lengthy memo put out on the company’s internal blog talked about the business repercussions of leaked information and the legal actions that can be taken to punish leakers, as reported by Bloomberg.

The memo stated the company “caught 29 leakers” in 2017 and 12 of those were arrested. Apple also warned that those who get terminated may find difficulty in finding new employment.

Apple product marketing executive Greg Joswiak said on the memo, “We want the chance to tell our customers why the product is great, and not have that done poorly by someone else.”

“The impact of a leak goes far beyond the people who work on a project,” the memo stated.

Several instances of leaks were cited on the memo. One of these referred to information about a software package which revealed details on the then-unreleased iPhone X and new Apple Watch.

A meeting with software engineer head Craig Federighi earlier this year was also leaked to the media. Federighi told staff who attended the meeting that some planned iPhone software were getting delayed.

Apple’s stand to remain secretive about plans and future products is yet to be tested. Whether the internal memo will prove effective in preventing leaks before they happen remains to be seen. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

MicroLED display development receives focused attention from Apple

Apple has been investing extra funds on developing a new type of screen, which may overtake OLED displays.

A good amount of the company’s funds has been going to a secret facility near its California headquarters. The facility’s goal is to develop and produce test samples of MicroLED screens, according to a report by BloombergTechnology.

MicroLED is a next-generation display technology that can potentially allow for slimmer and less power-hungry gadgets with brighter displays.

However, creating a MicroLED screen has proven difficult so far because it uses different materials compared with OLED. Depending on screen size, a MicroLED display can contain millions of individual pixels while having three sub-pixels each. By comparison an 8K resolution display has 7,680 pixels by 4,320 lines.

Research on the technology is currently in its advanced stages but it may take a few more years before it gets implemented on a new iPhone.

Along the way the Cupertino company will have a few challenges to face. For one, new technology often requires new manufacturing equipment to build products. Outsourcing production of new screens runs the risk of the technology leaking to competitors.

OLED screen makers like Samsung and LG, which have been contracted to produce OLED displays for the iPhone X and future models, may also develop a better screen to overtake MicroLED.

For now, the iPhone maker is keeping a tight lid on the finer details of the new screen technology. The report suggests at least a three- to four-year wait time before MicroLED arrives on consumer gadgets.  /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple apologizes for slowing iPhones, offers discounted batteries

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Apple on Thursday apologized to its customers for slowing down performance of older iPhone models and said it would discount replacement batteries for some of its handsets.“We’ve always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible. We’re proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors’ devices.”

Apple said it was reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement from $79 to $29 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later whose battery needs to be replaced, starting in late January through December 2018.

The company said it also would issue a software update to make it easier for customers to see if an aging battery is affecting performance.

“As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid unexpected shutdowns as batteries age,” the statement said.

The controversy erupted last week after Apple acknowledged a feature to “smooth out” spikes in demand for power to prevent iPhone 6 models from shutting down due to the cold or weak batteries.

Rumors had persisted for years at tech news websites devoted to Apple products and among fans of the company’s products that iPhone performance was being intentionally slowed, perhaps to push users to buy newer models.

Apple’s latest statement said that “we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.”

But it noted that “batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they chemically age” and that factors such as heat can affect performance.

Apple said a software update last year “manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown” and that “in some cases users may experience longer launch times for apps and other reductions in performance.” /cbb

source: technology.inquirer.net

iPhone slowdown for old models addresses aging battery issues, says Apple

iPhone users have recently taken note of performance slowdowns with older models and made it known on the Internet. Apple says the slowdowns are intentional, to address problems that may occur with an aging battery pack.

Lithium-ion batteries are known to deteriorate over time. This means they hold less charge and would require more frequent recharging. The lower power output could lead to devices suddenly shutting down in an effort to preserve internal components.

According to a statement made by Apple to The Verge, the company chose to slow down older iPhone models to compensate for the aging batteries. By lowering the demand the device makes of the battery, the older iPhone can remain stable and avoid sudden shutdowns or other component failures.

Apple made this feature available to the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE in 2016. They’ve also added it to the iPhone 7 through the iOS 11.2 update and plan to include the feature in future phones.

Reddit users have also noticed that replacing the batteries of their aging iPhones rolled back the slowdown effect. This returned their devices to peak performance as if brand new.

While Apple may have meant well, The Verge noted that the company’s approach may only help feed conspiracy theories. The phone manufacturer could make battery replacement easier and educate consumers about it. Instead, theories suggest that Apple makes it difficult on purpose to force the purchase of a new iPhone every 12 to 24 months. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net