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Tag: Apple

  • Apple files an appeal to reverse iPhone ban in China

    Apple files an appeal to reverse iPhone ban in China

    Apple has filed an appeal with a Chinese court to reverse the ban imposed on all iPhone models in the country since the iPhone 6s. The ban is essentially a part of the ongoing legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple.

    “Qualcomm’s effort to ban our products is another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world,” Apple said in a statement to CNBC.

    While Qualcomm stated in a press release that a Chinese court has issued two preliminary injunctions against Apple subsidiaries in the country. As per the order, Apple is supposed to halt ‘sale and offers for sale in China of the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X’.

    “Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These Court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm’s vast patent portfolio. The injunctions require Apple to immediately stop infringing on two Qualcomm patents,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated.

    Apple was found to be infringing upon two patents as per the Chinese court’s ruling.

    These include a patent for changing and reformatting the size and appearance of photographs, and one for managing apps when viewing, navigating and dismissing apps using a touchscreen.

    Despite the court’s order, Apple insists it’ll keep selling iPhones in China. The Cupertino giant says it did not violate these patents and the ban goes beyond the scope of the two injunctions.

    “All iPhone models remain available for our customers in China. Qualcomm is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated. We will pursue all our legal options through the courts,” said Apple.

    Apple and Qualcomm have been engaged in a rather fierce legal battle for the past few years. Both tech giants have sued each other in various courts in several countries across the globe.

  • iPhone users complain of a bug in iOS 12.1.1

    iPhone users complain of a bug in iOS 12.1.1

    The re-released iOS 12.1.1 update has a bug which adversely affects mobile data for a number of users. According to a report by Forbes, the iPhone-maker apparently knew about the bug before its commercial rollout. The report further adds that mobile data doesn’t work properly on iPhones after updating to iOS 12.1.1, and causes several other issues with their device.

    Some users suggest they can browse the web with Safari, however they can’t access the web while using other apps. Others suggest that a Wi-Fi connecton is required to access the web no matter whether they use the browser, or other apps installed on their iPhones. The issue affects all iPhone models irrespective of the country.

    For now, Apple hasn’t yet rolled out a fix for the bug. Users who are facing this issue are currently advised to get in touch with Apple Support.

    Interestingly, it appears Apple had knowledge about the bug before releasing the update. As several beta testers reported the issue on Twitter while iOS 12.1.1 update was undergoing beta testing. Besides, the official Apple account on Twitter also engaged in the discussion and asked affected users for further details.

    Now, this essentially suggests Apple knew iOS 12.1.1 update could affect cellular data connectivity before re-releasing the update for everyone. The company is yet to acknowledge the issue, so we’re not sure as to when a fix for the bug will roll out. There’s also a possibilty users might have to wait until the next iOS update for the fix to arrive.

    Are you facing data connectivity issues with your iPhone after updating to iOS 12.1.1. Let us know in the comments below.

  • Apple’s next iPhone will look much like the iPhone Xs, says analyst

    Apple’s next iPhone will look much like the iPhone Xs, says analyst

    It appears we can’t expect the next iPhone range to look much different from the current lineup.  As according to Nomuar analyst Anna Lee, Apple’s 2019-iPhone lineup won’t be much of a change from the current lineup. Now, this essentially implies that the next iPhone’s design will remain largely similar to the current iPhone XS.

    “We think the three new iPhones in 2H19F will likely have the same form factors (body size and displays) as the 2H18 iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, with some added AR [augmented reality]-related features,” said the analyst.

    Apple is widely expected to launch three iPhone models next year as well, a 5.8-inch model, a plus sized Max model, along with a 6.1-inch LCD model.

    “We think 2019 could be the last year the iPhone uses the iPhone X design architecture, in preparation for initial hardware specs for 5G (sub-6GHz) and AR (augmented reality), before greater architecture upgrades in 2020F for 5G and a more comprehensive AR system,”, the analyst further added.

    Besides, the analyst also notes there’s a good chance iPhone sales would shrink even further during the next fiscal year. The analyst estimates 204 million iPhone units sales is fiscal year 2019, while it’s expected to drop in fiscal year 2020 to 200 million units.

    Apple has already cut production orders for this year’s iPhone lineup. Reports indicate that iPhone XR orders have been massively reduced, by upto 30 percent.  Although, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have not witnessed such reduced orders.

    Apple’s decision to reduce production orders comes as a result of lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models as well as overall shrinking of the smartphone-market. Reports further cite that weak demand in China is another reason for cutting down production of newly launched iPhone models.

  • Apple Watch Series 4 starts getting ECG functionality

    Apple Watch Series 4 starts getting ECG functionality

    The Apple Watch Series 4 was officially unveiled during the company’s annual keynote event in September. The company’s latest smartwatch practically stole the show thanks to its built-in Electrocardigram (ECG) feature. As the name suggests, this feature gives users a heart sensor on their wrists as it can detect unusual heartbeats.

    Apple touts its latest smartwatch as the first consumer device to come with this functionality. Now, key sources indicate that the feature has finally arrived on Apple Watch Series 4 thanks to the latest watchOS 5.1.2 update. Besides, the update also brings the irregular heart rate notification for all generations of the Apple Watch, going back to Apple Watch Series 1. Both features will be available as a part of watch0S 5.1.2 update.

    With that being said, FDA had earlier warned users that the feature is for informational purpose only and shouldn’t be used by anyone below the age of 22. The federal body also suggests that users shouldn’t consult doctors solely on the basis of the app’s data readings.

    In addition, several medical experts have also indicated that users may arrive at false inferences from the app, which may lead to unnecessary trips to doctors. Apple has also issued a statement in this regard, stating that these features shouldn’t be taken as diagnostic tools.

    The ECG functinlaity, for now, is rolling out in the US, and will be available via the WatchOS 5.1.2 update. Besides, Apple has also extended the return period for Apple Watch from two weeks to 45 days, though only for heart rate issues.

  • Apple won’t launch a 5G iPhone before 2020

    Apple won’t launch a 5G iPhone before 2020

    Apple reportedly won’t launch a 5G compatible iPhone before 2020. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple will likely adopt next generation 5G cellular connectivity by 2020. Notably, this report falls in line with earlier leaks and rumors which pointed that the first iPhone with 5G support won’t release before 2020.

    The report cites multiple sources familiar with Apple’s plans, adding that Intel will most likley provide the 5G modems, which was also indicated by earlier reports. Sources suggest that Apple plans to use Intel’s 8161 5G modem chip, however it won’t use Intel’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips for the 2020 model.

    Besides, given the ongoing legal spat between Apple and Qualcomm, the iPhone-maker will likely rely on Intel to provide 5G modems for its future iPhones. That said, if this report turns out to be true, Apple will fall behind its Android rivals who are most likely to introduce 5G -equipped smartphones by next year.

    Samsung and Huawei have already invested heavily in 5G and are likely to introduce smartphones with 5G support by 2019. That said, Apple was also slower in adopting 4G connectivity compared to other smartphone manufacturers.

    However, it turned out to be a good decision for the iPhone-maker. As Apple waited for 4G LTE technology to mature compared to other major brands who forced themselves to install 4G components on their handsets – essentially impacting both size and battery life. Though we can’t say the same thing might happen when 5G cellular connectivity starts rolling out.

  • Apple fixes iCloud for Windows compatibilty issues with a new update

    Apple fixes iCloud for Windows compatibilty issues with a new update

    Apple has finally rolled out an iCloud for Windows update to fix compatibilty issues with the latest version of Windows 10. iCloud for Windows version 7.81 has been specifically released by Apple to address compatibilty issues with Windows 10 October 2018 update (version 1809).

    To recall, Microsoft prevented users from downloading iCloud for Windows software after an incompatibilty was discovered by Apple. The issue led to problems updating Shared Albums after users downloaded Windows 10 version 1809.

    That time, Microsoft promised it had joined hands with Apple to roll out a fix for the iCloud software that’ll work properly with the latest version of Windows 10.

    “Apple has released an updated version of iCloud for Windows (version 7.8.1) that resolves compatibility issues encountered when updating or synching Shared Albums after updating to Windows 10, version 1809. We recommend that you update your iCloud for Windows to version 7.8.1 when prompted before attempting to upgrade to Windows 10, version 1809,” said Microsoft.

    Users can manually check for the update by heading over to Windows Update and Check for Updates. The update is being rolled out in phases to devices that are fully compatible with Windows 10 version 1809. Hence, if your system has no compatiblity issues, the download would be ready and should show up while checking for updates.

    Besides, Microsoft is also working on fixing several other bugs in Windows 10 October 2018 Update. The company has released a new cumulative update for Insiders in the Preview ring to test some of these fixes.

  • Apple slashes iPhone XR prices with one Japanese carrier

    Apple slashes iPhone XR prices with one Japanese carrier

    An earlier report indicated that Apple plans to slash iPhone XR prices in Japan by offering subsidies to carriers. The reason behind this alleged move was said to be low-demand for new iPhones in the market. Now, it appears the report turns out to be true.

    As Japanese carrier NTTDocomo is offering the iPhone XR with a price drop of nearly $100 when purchased with a 24-month contract. The 64GB variant of the handset can be purchased with payment of 7000 Yen ($62) per month through NTTDocomo in the country. Sources also suggest that more carriers in Japan will likley follow suit in the next few days.

    That said, it’s also worth noting that this price cut doesn’t apply if the iPhone XR is bought unlocked from a different carrier or retailer. As the price of the handset remains the same, unless one gets it with a 24-month contract.

    Besides, it’s still unclear whether Apple plans to offer similar price cuts in other markets across the globe, apart from Japan. Though with all reports pointing to slowing down of 2018 iPhone sales, we won’t be surprised if something like this happens in other global markets as well.

    Earlier reports also indicated that Apple plans to resurrect the iPhone X. The company reportedly plans to relaunch the iPhone X at lower prices, possibly to compensate for low sales of its new iPhone lineup. However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as this won’t be the first time Apple will produce old iPhone models for markets which have sufficient demand for cheaper handsets.

    The latest price cut comes shortly after a report earlier this week which claimed that Apple has slashed production orders for its latest iPhone XS and iPhone XR models, due to lower than anticipated demand.

  • Microsoft dethrones Apple to become the most valuable company by market cap

    Microsoft dethrones Apple to become the most valuable company by market cap

    Microsoft has surpassed Apple to become the world’s most valuable company. The Windows-maker is now reportedly worth $753 billion, compard to Apple which has now come down to $746 billion.

    It appears Microsoft’s startegy to invertments in products like Office, Azure, and Cloud has fetched good returns for the company. Reports further add that Microosft is possibly on its way to become a trillion dollar company, something which Apple was once.

    Shrinking of global iPhone demand has caused a substantial dip in Apple’s shares prices. The Cupertino giant’s shares revcently fell to $172.2, after it announced reduced production orders for the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. Not to mention, Apple also has plans to resurrect the iPhone X and reduce iPhone XR prices in Japan to mitigate losses.

    Apple’s stock has shrunk by over 10 percent since November. During that time, the company also announced that it would not disclose iPhone sale units to investors. Since then, Apple’s stock has been constantly sliding.

    Earlier this week, a WSJ report also claimed that Apple is offering subsidies to carriers in Japan to reduce iPhone XR prices. Besides, the report also mentioned the company’s plan to resume iPhone X production. One of the problems the company is facing is the fact that older iPhone models still have massive popularity in countries like Japan, most probably because they’re much cheaper than the latest iPhone models.

    Apple has also cut down production orders because of lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models, as well as overall shrinking of the smartphone-market. Reports further cite that weak demand in China is another reason for cutting down production of newly launched iPhone range.

    Besides, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also suggests that Apple will see an year-over-year decline in iPhone shipments during the first quarter of 2019.

  • Apple announces Black Friday 2018 deals

    Apple announces Black Friday 2018 deals

    Apple typically charges a premium price of its products. Hence, buyers usually wait for the holiday season sale to pick up iPhones and iPads at reasonable discounts. That said, it appears holiday season shoppers are seemingly out of luck as Apple’s Black Friday 2018 deals are disappointing to say the least.

    Besides, the company’s Blackk Friday 2018 page itself confirms you’re not getting any dispcunts on iPhone, iPads, MacBooks. Instead, you’ll only get Apple Store Gift Cards if you buy any Apple product during this year’s Black Friday sale.

    Apple has already set the bar for launching one of the most expensive iPhone to date, with the iPhone XS priced at a whopping $1449 in the US. That said, it appears the company still sees no reason to announce lucrative Black Friday deals to attract buyers, despite falling iPhone sales. Hence, what you’ll get if you do decide to buy an iPhone this Black Friday – a $50 Apple Store Gift Card for select SIM-free models. Eligible models for this offer include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.

    Apple Watch Series 3 also get you a $50 gift card. However, there are no deals on Apple Watch Series 4.

    There are no good deals on iPads either. In case you’re interested in buying an iPad, you’ll receive a $100 Apple Store Gift Card. iPad models eligible for this promo include the latest 10.5-inch iPad Pro, iPad, and iPad Mini.

    Finally, Apple is offering $200 Apple Store Gift Card with MacBooks.

    Apple hasn’t announced any special deals for its 2018 product lineup. Therefore, Apple Store isn’t the best plave to go if you’re looking for a cheaper iPhone XS or the Apple Watch Series 4. It’s better to check other retailers for discounts on Apple products.

  • Apple to slash iPhone XR prices in Japan to boost sales: Report

    Apple to slash iPhone XR prices in Japan to boost sales: Report

    Apple has reportedly announced price cuts for the iPhone XR in Japan in an attempt to improve the handset’s sale in the country. According to a report by WSJ, the iPhone-maker is offering subsidies to carriers in Japan and these price cuts are likely to be implemented next week.

    Besides, the report further notes Apple has apparently resumed production of last year’s iPhone X. Now, this suggests that the company plans to sell older iPhone models in Japan. However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as this won’t be the first time Apple will produce old iPhone models for markets which have sufficient demand for cheaper handsets.

    One of the problems Apple is facing is the fact that older iPhone models still have massive popularity in countries like Japan, most probably because they’re much cheaper than the latest iPhone models.

    However, the report also cites supply chain sources which claim that resuming iPhone X production is also because of Apple’s need to use OLED panels ordered from Samsung. These panels were actually planned for use in iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, however, lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models has pushed Apple to use them on the older iPhone X.

    This strategy would allow Apple to use the excess OLED screen components in a smartphone that became massively popular during its lifetime. Besides, offering it at a discounted price would allow Apple to mitigate losses suffered because of weak demand for new iPhone models. That said, it’s still not clear whether the iPhone X will go back on sale globally. As Apple no longer sells the 2017 iPhone X via its own stores.

    Interestingly, the latest news comes shortly after a report earlier this week which claimed that Apple has slashed production orders for its latest iPhone XS and iPhone XR models, due to lower than anticipated demand.

  • Apple reportedly acquires AI-centric privacy startup SilkLabs

    Apple reportedly acquires AI-centric privacy startup SilkLabs

    Apple has reportedly acquired SilkLabs, a start-up which focuses on AI-centric privacy and builds machine learning products. Founded in 2015 by Mozilla’s former CTO, Andreas Gal, Silk Labs develops on-device machine learning software and products for private and business security.

    The startup has launched only one product so far: a smart home monitoring camera dubbed as Sense. The device uses facial and object recognition that can recognize different faces as well as pets for home security and business surveillance.

    Besides, the device can connect with smart home products such as thermostats, cameras, smart bulbs, and speakers. With the help of on-device machine learning software, Sense can even identify users patterns and play music as per the user’s taste.

    SilkLabs also stresses that the way it collects data offers more privacy than its rivals. The start-up explains its algorithms are designed to collect only key data, instead of substantial amounts a user processes so that a user is always in control of his privacy. Put simply, it could process data without sending it to the cloud.

    Silk Lab’s focus on privacy and machine learning would have lured Apple , who also has a similar approach to privacy. The AI-talent from Silk Labs can be put to use by Apple to improve Siri and its smart products such as HomePod.

    With Apple’s increased focus of AI- centric privacy, the acquistion of Silk Labs shouldn’t come as a surprise. Reports also suggest that Apple’s acquisition of SilkLabs was on a much smaller scale compared to the company’s other acquisitions.

    The Information reports that SilkLabs only has around a dozen employees and received $4 million in funding. However, neither company has issued an official statement regarding the acquisition.

  • Tumblr ousted from the AppStore over child pornography issues

    Tumblr ousted from the AppStore over child pornography issues

    Tumblr suddenly went missing from the AppStore a few days back, though no statement by either companies were issued over the disappearance. Now, a report from Download.com has revealed the reason as to why the social media app went missing from the App Store.

    According to the report, Tumblr was removed from the AppStore because some images showing child pornography appeared on website. The report further claims that the cause of disappearance was confirmed by independent sources within the company.

    “As this is an industry-wide problem, we work collaboratively with our industry peers and partners like [the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children] (NCMEC) to actively monitor content uploaded to the platform. Every image uploaded to Tumblr is scanned against an industry database of known child sexual abuse material, and images that are detected never reach the platform. A routine audit discovered content on our platform that had not yet been included in the industry database. We immediately removed this content. Content safeguards are a challenging aspect of operating scaled platforms. We’re continuously assessing further steps we can take to improve and there is no higher priority for our team,” said Tumblr in a statement.

    Just like other websites, Tumblr scans images that users upload. Though in this case, these images depicting child sexual abuse somehow got through the website’s filters. The social network is now reportedly deleting all kinds of NSFW blogs, even those not related to child pornography. Apple has laid down clear iOS guidelines that all apps must have content filter to detect such material, and it appears the Yahoo-owned app doesn’t have enough tools yet.

    Tumblr notes that getting back to the AppStore is now its number one priority, however, it didn’t reveal an exact timeframe when it’ll be back. Tumblr is infamously tolerant of NSFW and adult-oriented content, which also led to its brief ban in Indonesia. As back in 2016, the Indonesian government banned the site for a while over pornography content.

  • Apple slashes production orders for iPhone XS and iPhone XR

    Apple slashes production orders for iPhone XS and iPhone XR

    In addition to cutting back production of the iPhone XR, Apple has reportedly decided to reduce production orders for its newly launched iPhone XS range as well. Reports indicate that production models for the iPhone XR have been massively reduced, by up to 30 percent. Although, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have not witnessed such reduced production orders, according to reports.

    Apple’s decison to cut down production orders comes as a result of lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models, as well as overall shrinking of the smartphone-market. Reports further cite that weak demand in China is another reason for cutting down production of newly launched iPhone range.

    Apple’s stock reduced by 5 percent earlier this month, as the company was unable to forecast iPhone demand for the holiday season. Another reason for falling Wall Street numbers is that Apple told investors that it would no longer reveal iPhone unit sales, which has probably made them apprehensive.

    Besides, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also suggests that Apple will see an year-over-year decline in iPhone shipments during the first quarter of 2019.

    Well, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of prodution cuts for iPhone units. Last year, similar reports of the iPhone X popped up at this time of the year. Apple was overly optimistic about the debut of iPhone X, though reportedly decided to slash its production by 20 million units. However, it surpassed everyone’s expectations and turned out to be the most popular smartphone in the world.

  • Users facing bending issues with the 2018 iPad Pro

    Users facing bending issues with the 2018 iPad Pro

    Apple’s latest 2018 iPad Pro certainly combines powerful hardware and a top-notch design in one single package. However, it appears the iPhone-maker could be embroiled in another bendgate turmoil, as several users are facing bending issues with their 2018 iPad Pro.

    While we’ve already across several bend and stress tests which didn’t look good for the 2018 iPad Pro, users are now complaining about bending issues. The issue was reported by MacRumours citing users on the publication’s forum. Users are stating that the bend occurs naturally even though they haven’t conducted the stress test themselves.

    One user experienced a slight bend on his 2018 iPad Pro after he came back from a weekend trip. Now, this brings back memories of the whole bedgate fiasco Apple faced with the iPhone 6 Plus. To rectify the issue, Apple introduced 7000 series aluminum to stop that from happening with the iPhone 6 Plus.

    The good news, however, is that this doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue. As the number of complaints received for the 2018 iPad Pro bending is far less than what we saw with the iPhone 6 Plus.

    In case you didn’t know, the latest iPad Pro is rather thin at 5.9mm, which makes it rather prone to bending. The exact cause of the bending still remains a mystery, and we hope Apple will investigate the matter as soon as psoosible.

    We’ll certianly come across more regarding the bending issue with Apple’s 2018 iPad Pro, so stay tuned for more. We’ll update you as soon as hear anyhting new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Apple probing claims of iPhone X explosion after iOS 12.1 update

    Apple probing claims of iPhone X explosion after iOS 12.1 update

    An iPhone X user has claimed that the smartphone exploded after it was updated to iOS 12.1. According to the owner, his iPhone X first emitted grey smoke and eventually burst into flames. The owner, Rocky Mohamadali, posted on Twitter that his iPhone X became alarmingly hot and all of a sudden exploded after it was updated to iOS 12.1.

    The iPhone X in question was bought in early January and was working fine, until the explosion. The owner also claims that he was using genuine accessories that came bundled with his iPhone X, including the official Apple Lightning cable and charger. He, however, also stated that at the time of explosion his device was not plugged into the charger.

    “This year early January I bought the iPhone and have been using it normally. Dark grey smoke started coming from the phone. The update was completed and as soon as the phone turned on it started to smoke and caught fire,” explained Mohamadali.

    As expected, the owner has reached out to Apple and the company has asked him to ship the device for further investigation. Apple is yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. Though Apple’s official support page on Twitter did respond to Mohamadali’s Tweet with the message,” That’s definitely not expected behaviour”.

    No additional details are available regarding the issue. Though it doesn’t appear to be widespread problem as this is the first such incident about the iPhone X. Also, given the fact that Apple is rather strict about its QA procedure, we aren’t going to witness a Galaxy Note 7-like fiasco.