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Luke Dormehl - page 132

Apple hopes to avoid Qualcomm’s wrath in Germany

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The iPhone XS Max is 25 percent larger than any previous iOS handset. So how is it as an iPad mini replacement?
Apple has made a change to iOS to try and ward off a legal challenge in Germany.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

China isn’t the only place where Apple is trying to ward off a possible legal challenge from Qualcomm. According to a new report, it has introduced a change to iOS that affects only users in Germany.

It comes before a hearing, scheduled for later today, in which a German court will hear that Apple allegedly violated Qualcomm’s patents.

Receive an iPad with a bent chassis? Nothing to worry about, says Apple

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The screen really is beautiful.
Some iPads appear to be less than perfect even when you first open them.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Okay, so most people aren’t silly enough to throw down their hard-earned money on a new iPad Pro, only to snap it in half like that infamous YouTube video which did the rounds recently.

But some users have noticed that their new iPads are actually shipping with a slight bend in the aluminum chassis, which is therefore present before the device has even been used.

Don’t worry, Apple says. That’s totally normal, and nothing to worry about.

iPhone display maker could be saved by another Apple supplier

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iPhone Xs
Japan Display could get thrown a lifeline.
Photo: Apple

Chinese electronic parts maker O-Film Tech could bail out the struggling Japan Display, a new report reveals. Both companies are listed on Apple’s 2018 Supplier List.

O-Film reportedly wants to buy a 33 percent stake in Japan Display, which provides Apple with LCD displays. Japan Display has been having major problems for some time. This year alone, its stock has fallen 80 percent.

iPhone sales could ‘get worse’ before they get better

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iPhone
Yet another analyst thinks iPhone sales are going to struggle in 2019.
Photo: Apple

Jefferies analyst Timothy O’Shea has added his name to the growing number of Apple watchers concerned about iPhone demand. His message? That Wall Street estimates remain too high, and that Apple’s situation, “could get worse before it gets better.”

Apple has lost more than one-fifth of its value since its $1 trillion record market cap earlier this year.

France’s president wants to tax U.S. tech giants an extra $792 million

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Apple takes a hacksaw to estimated trade-in values for its devices
Funds could help pay some of the emergency funds Macron recently announced.
Photo: Pictures of Money/Flickr CC

Beleaguered French president Emmanuel Macron is hoping to win back public favor by putting in place tax hikes on American tech giants doing business in Europe.

France has reportedly been working with other countries in the European Union to introduce a digital tax on companies including Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google. The new taxes, set to be introduced in January, could pull in $792 million.

Apple nets major tax break for new $1 billion Texas campus

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Austin campus
A look at Apple's forthcoming Austin, Texas campus.
Photo: Apple

Update: Williamson County elected to award Apple tax breaks worth $16 million over 15 years. The Williamson County commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the deal. Another $25 million will come from the Texas Enterprise Fund.

Apple apparently netted itself a good deal for its newly announced $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas. According to a new report, Williamson County could pay back 65 percent of property taxes to Apple in exchange for a long-term commitment to creating jobs.

The money would be paid in yearly installments. It would start when Apple hires 700 people, then continue for the next 15 years. In return, Apple would invest $400 million and hire 4,000 people for the new site.

Apple Watch will be king until at least 2022

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
Don't expect Apple Watch to lose its dominance any time soon.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple is likely to remain the biggest player in the smartwatch category, a new report from analysts at IDC suggests.

The firm suggests that the overall wearables category is set to reach 125.3 million units this year, of which smartwatches represent around half. By 2022, IDC thinks that 189.9 million wearables will be sold. That’s growth that surpasses either the smartphone or the PC.

Apple’s humpbacked Smart Case is coming for iPhone XS and XS Max

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Smart case
The design of Apple's original Smart Case was heavily criticized.
Photo: Apple

The much-maligned Smart Battery case for the iPhone looks like it will be making a return — only this time for the iPhone XS and XS Max.

In leaked images found in a merchandise guide for Apple retailers, the distinctive “hump” found in the Smart Battery cases can be clearly seen. The document is titled “Fall 2018,” suggesting that the cases may be available in the next few weeks, although there’s a chance they will only appear in early 2019.

New ‘how to’ videos will help you get to grips with Apple Watch

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Apple Watch 2
Apple is ready to guide you through the world of Apple Watch.
Photo: Apple

Want to know how to locate your iPhone using your Apple Watch? What about customizing your workouts, or viewing your Activity Rings? If you’re an Apple Watch newbie, Apple wants to help you get to grips with your new wearable device.

With that mission in mind, Apple this week uploaded six new short “how to” videos to its YouTube channel. These 30-second videos offer a handy primer in getting the most out of your new Apple Watch. Check them out below.

Qualcomm isn’t happy that Apple is still selling iPhones in China

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
Qualcomm thinks Apple is violating a court order by continuing to sell iPhones.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple and Qualcomm have found yet another thing to disagree over in their long-running feud. A court in China recently issued an order banning Apple from selling several older iPhone models. Apple subsequently released an iOS update which it claims stopped it infringing on the software patents in the complaint.

However, Qualcomm is not satisfied, and insists that Apple is breaking the law by keeping all of its iPhone models on sale.

2018 was a wild ride for Apple [Year in Review]

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Year in Review Everything Apple Did 2018
It was a busy year in Cupertino.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac Year in Review 2018 2018 was a rollercoaster year for Apple — with incredible highs, massive dips, and probably an executive or two throwing up along the way.

Apple became the first $1 trillion public company in U.S. history, unleashed some amazing new products, and pulled in record amounts of cash. But it also faced lows, from the iPhone-throttling controversy to a tanking stock price at the end of the year.

One thing that can’t be said, however, is that this was an uneventful 12 months for Cupertino. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s most memorable Apple moments.

Apple Music gets the (unofficial) web player it needs

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Apple Music web browser
Don't worry: All log-ins are via Apple's own authentication protocol.
Photo: Playapplemusic

Currently, there’s no officially sanctioned Apple way to play Apple Music in your web browser.

Enterprising software engineer Naveed Golafshani (a.k.a. Reddit user NaveedGol) has sprang to the rescue with a new — totally unofficial — web player at wwww.playapplemusic.com. It allows users to log in using Apple’s own authentication service, and then access their Apple Music libraries online.

Apple accused of misleading iPhone users over screen size

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iPhone x battery percentage
Apple is accused of hiding valuable pixels under its notch.
Photo: Apple

The “notch” on Apple’s iPhone X, XS and XS Max devices is causing more problems — and this time could even land Apple in court.

A new lawsuit filed against Apple late last week alleges that Apple has lied about the display specifications in its newer iPhones. How? By including pixels and screen dimensions hidden beneath the notch and corners. As a result, Apple’s new iPhones don’t boast quite as much screen as they’re advertised as having.

These are the 10 highest-grossing iOS apps this year

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Apple removes 17 malware apps which secretly clicked on ads
Netflix leads the pack with $790.2 million raked in during 2018.
Photo: Apple

Netflix was the biggest earner in non-game apps in the App Store this year. According to data from app analytics company Sensor Tower, the streaming-video powerhouse raked in a massive $790.2 million on iOS during 2018 — or, at least, through November 30.

Here are the other companies that carved out spaces in the top 10 non-game app list.

iPhone’s Face ID obliterates gullible Android rivals

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Facial recognition 1
The iPhone was the only one of the tested smartphones which passed the test.
Screenshot: Forbes

When Apple first introduced Face ID with the iPhone X, many were concerned that facial recognition would make it easier to hack into phones.

Fortunately, Apple’s approach to Face ID has largely allayed people’s fears. But just how secure is the facial recognition biometric technology adopted by Apple and its rivals? A Forbes reporter (and his 3D printed head model) recently demonstrated just how the iPhone stacks up against Android rivals.

Top Apple analyst predicts shrinking iPhone sales in 2019

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iPhone XR test
Apple's stock price decline could continue well into 2019.
Photo: Apple

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is one of the more reliable Apple watchers out there. And he doesn’t have good news for the company.

In his latest note to clients, Kuo slashes his estimate on the number of iPhones Apple is likely to sell in the coming months. Compared to the 50 million iPhones Apple sold in Q1 2018, Kuo thinks the company will sell just 38 to 42 million units.

Struggling iPhone display maker looking for other ways to make money

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iphone XS
Japan Display has lost 80 percent of its value this year.
Photo: Apple

Just a few years back, Japan Display was talking about building a $1.4 billion factory to create iPhone displays for Apple. Jump forward to 2018 and the company is having to reimagine its future for a world in which smartphone growth isn’t guaranteed.

According to a new report, Japan Display has responded by focusing on smart sensors. Compared to one year ago, the firm has shifted one-third of its research staff to sensor development. These would be focused on everything from sleep tracking to assorted healthcare applications.

One of Australia’s biggest banks changes mind on Apple Pay

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Australia money
This is a g'day for Apple Pay users.
Photo illustration: Cult of Mac / Picturesofmoney

One of Australia’s largest banks has said that it has listened to its customers and is about to start offering Apple Pay support. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (abbreviated to CommBank) doesn’t give an exact launch date, but a tweet suggests that it’s coming soon.

This is significant due to the fact that CommBank is part of Australia’s “Big Four” largest banks, which previously struggled to come to terms with Apple over mobile payments.

Apple hopes iOS update will help overturn costly iPhone sales ban in China

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Qualcomm headquarters
Apple says an iPhone ban would force a settlement with Qualcomm.
Photo: Qualcomm

Apple is rushing to release an iOS update in China to resolve potential infringement of Qualcomm patents. The news follows a report stating that a Chinese sales ban of certain iPhone models would cost Apple millions of dollars a day.

“Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case,” Apple said in a statement.

U.S. iPhone ban isn’t out of the question in Qualcomm battle

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Qualcomm headquarters
Apple has been battling Qualcomm since early last year.
Photo: Qualcomm

Certain iPhone models have been barred for sale in China, but a similar ban in the U.S. isn’t totally out of the question. The U.S. International Trade Commission has said that it plans to review a previous ruling stating that a ban on iPhone imports was not in the interests of the general public — even in the event that Apple infringed on a Qualcomm patent.

Apple and Qualcomm have been battling it out for much of the past two years. They are scheduled to meet in court next April.

Apple’s Services growth could be about to slow down

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Streaming services like Apple Music dominate the US music market
Apple Music is big, but is it big enough?
Photo: Apple

iPhone sales may be slowing down, but investors have held onto promising data points like Apple’s impressively growing Services division. According to some, this burgeoning part of Apple’s business even has the potential to make up 40 percent of the company’s gross profits by fiscal 2020.

Macquarie Research analyst Benjamin Schachter isn’t quite so smitten, however. In a new note to clients, Schachter claims that growth in the Services division is about to start slowing down.

Apple to open $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas

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Austin campus
Apple's existing campus in Austin.
Photo: Apple

Apple will open a new 133-acre campus in Austin, Texas — approximately 1,500 miles from its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino.

The $1 billion headquarters will initially house 5,000 employees, although this number will eventually expand to 15,000 people. Apple also plans new sites in Seattle, San Diego, and Culver City, California.

This mini iPhone concept is as cute as a button

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iPhone
Would you like a smaller iPhone?
Photo: Dongjae "Krystofer" Kim

It’s been an unmistakable trend for the past five years: iPhones are getting physically larger. Given the popularity of “phablets,” that makes perfect sense — but it’s not for everyone.

One of those people is designer Dongjae “Krystofer” Kim. Kim recently put together a concept design for what a mini version of the current iPhones might look like. And it’s actually pretty darn neat. Check it out below.