Mobile menu toggle

Luke Dormehl - page 137

Apple makes new hire to try and turn around its India business

By

Foxconn moving additional iPhone production to India as coronavirus disrupts work
Ashish Chowdhary joins Apple from Nokia.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has hired the former Chief Customer Operations Officer at Nokia Networks to head up its India operations department, a new report claims. Ashish Chowdhary will take up the role of Apple’s India head from January as Apple continues to try and grow its brand in the country.

India, which has a population of around 1.339 billion, is one of the fastest growing mobile markets after China and the U.S. However, it is one that Apple has largely failed to crack so far.

Screen Time flaw lets kids use Safari without limitations

By

Woman in China temporarily goes blind in one eye after smartphone overuse
Screen Time is a great concept. But it's got its weaknesses.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 12’s Screen Time feature is a great way of making sure that people, particularly children, don’t spend too long using their iOS devices. That’s an important goal, whether you’re worried about the potential mental health impact of overusing technology or just want to stop your kids wasting their time on social media.

It turns out that there’s a workaround on Safari, however — as discovered by the eldest son of computer security expert and iOS hacker David Schuetz.

Goldman Sachs worries that iPhone demand is ‘deteriorating’

By

iPhone XS Max
Apple's new iPhones are great. But are they the money-spinners Apple is hoping for?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Goldman Sachs has added its name to the list of financial institutions worried about stagnating iPhone sales.

“We are concerned that end demand for new iPhone models is deteriorating,” Goldman Sachs wrote in a new note to clients. The firm estimates that Apple will produce 6 percent fewer iPhones next year than it did in the year previous. However, the big investment banking company admits it could be jumping the gun.

Some users mysteriously locked out of Apple accounts

By

Locks 1
It's not yet clear why this has happened.
Photo: William Avery Hudson/Flickr CC

Multiple users have reported being locked out of their Apple devices, receiving messages stating that: “Your Apple ID has been locked for security reasons. To unlock it, you must verify your identity.”

There appears to be no pattern to the users receiving the message, in terms of their prior actions. It could be a fault on Apple’s part or, potentially, something more malicious like an attempted brute force attack by hackers.

Apple lost $190 billion in value over the past 5 weeks

By

Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
Apple has had a rough few weeks.
Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Some Apple stats are pretty mind-boggling to get your head around, such as the fact that a modern midrange iMac Pro boasts 11x as many bytes of memory as every combined unit of the Apple II ever sold.

The latest insane factoid is a bit less positive, however. After a recent decline in Apple’s stock price, the company has lost more money in 5 weeks — $190 billion — than its accumulated value in its first 30 years as a public company. Wow!

Apple confirms T2 chip will block certain third-party repairs

By

The Apple T2 chip could be the source of mysterious crashes afflicting two of Apple's newest computers.
The T2 chip is great. Unless you want to use a third party repairer.
Photo: IFIXIT

Apple has confirmed that certain repairs for its new Macs, sporting the T2 chip, can only be carried out by officially sanctioned Apple repair shops.

That’s because it contains software locks which brick the computers if they’re not operated on by someone not using Apple’s proprietary diagnostic software, called the AST 2 System Configuration. iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens describes this as a “guillotine that [Apple is] holding over” product owners — and potentially third party, unauthorized repairers, too.

Jony Ive’s $250,000 ring dazzles with a unibody diamond

By

Jony Ive ring 1
A one-piece diamond ring looks spectacular. But it'll sure as heck cost you!
Photo: Sotheby's

Want to show your Apple-loving significant other that you really care about them? If so — and you happen to have $150,000-$250,000 at your disposal — you might want to participate in a new Sotheby’s auction for a diamond ring designed by none other than Sir Jony Ive and BFF Marc Newson.

The one-of-a-kind ring was designed to raise money for (RED), a charity that raises money to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa. Over the years, Apple has raised millions of dollars for the charity — and Ive has had the chance to design one-off objects such as minimalist desks in the process.

Citibank is worried about weak iPhone XR sales

By

iphone xr
The iPhone XR may not be the sales juggernaut some predicted.
Photo: Apple

Financial services group Citibank has concerns about iPhone XR demand — and it’s worried that this will affect chip stocks.

In a new note to clients, Citi analyst Atif Malik downgraded Skyworks Solutions stock. Skyworks manufactures radio frequency semiconductors, which let smartphones talk to wireless networks. Apple orders allegedly make up 35 to 40 percent of Skyworks’ annual revenue.

iPhone triumphs over local rivals on record Chinese shopping day

By

iPhone sales are finally rebounding in China
Tim Cook looking happy in China. As he very much should be!
Photo: Tim Cook/Weibo

The iPhone outsold Chinese rivals on Alibaba platforms during China’s Singles Day on November 11. Singles’ Day is a holiday in which people not in a relationship buy themselves gifts.

Alibaba, the e-commerce giant that is the equivalent of China’s Amazon, sold a record $30.8 billion in gross merchandise during the day. Apple’s position as number one mobile brand is therefore pretty darn impressive!

Broadway ditches heavy production books for iPads

By

ProductionPro
A look at the ProductionPro app in use.
Photo: ProductionPro

Broadway producers are ditching the heavy, 10-pound production books they currently use for shows in favor of iPads. These books contain details — swapped out for each new production — about script and choreography changes in Broadway musicals.

Instead of these heavy books, producers on Pretty Woman: The Musical, Kinky Boots and other shows are increasingly relying on the considerably lighter iPad — complete with the app ProductionPro and an Apple Pencil for scribbling notes.

Why Apple is smart to stop playing the iPhone numbers game [Opinion]

By

Queue in Singapore
The obsession with iPhone sales numbers is now a thing of the past. Probably.
Photo: Apple

Apple shocked Wall Street yesterday when it revealed that it will no longer share information about how many iPhones sell each quarter. Instead, the company will provide the average sale price, which Cupertino claims is a far more useful figure to investors.

It’s a big change in strategy from a company that used to make a point of crowing about its landmark sales figures. But, while this move might disappoint some fans, it’s totally the right call. Here’s why.

Elon Musk says Apple doesn’t ‘blow people’s minds’ anymore

By

Musk
Musk says he still uses an iPhone, but doesn't think Apple is putting a dent in the universe these days.
Photo: Recode/Facebook

Elon Musk doesn’t think that Apple products “blow people’s minds” in the same way that they did at one point in time.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO briefly shared his thoughts on the company during an hour-long interview with Recode‘s Kara Swisher. While Musk noted that he still uses an iPhone, he also gave the impression that he views Apple as a company whose most exciting days may not be ahead of it.

Apple temporarily loses its $1 trillion market cap

By

Tim Cook earnings apple
Apple made a whole lot of money, but not enough for some investors.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

There was a lot to be enthusiastic about from yesterday’s Apple earnings, but some investors are rattled by weaker-than-expected iPhone sales.

As a result, Apple’s valuation dipped below the $1 trillion mark for the first time since the company hit that milestone earlier this year. The slide could well continue in the early part of today.

Giant Apple Watch heart health study is coming to an end

By

heart
This is the largest ever study of its kind.
Photo: Apple

Apple and Stanford University’s giant-sized study into heart health among Apple Watch users is wrapping up. According to the researchers, the study has now entered its final phase of data collection and is due to be completed “early next year.”

In total, more than 400,000 people were enrolled in what is described as the largest screening study on atrial fibrillation ever done. It was intended to determine whether wearable devices can accurately identify irregular heart rhythms.

U.K. passport plan might spark Apple’s next big fight

By

Square Terminal could help more businesses accept Apple Pay.
The UK government wants Apple to open up its NFC chip reader to developers.
Photo: Square

The UK government wants Apple to open up developer access to the NFC chips inside iPhones. The reason is because it plans to launch a new app designed to help EU citizens apply for residency in the U.K. after it leaves the European Union.

However, as part of the app, the government wants to let users scan the chip inside their passports with their smartphone’s NFC reader. Unfortunately, while this is possible to do on Android, Apple does not allow developer access in this way. And the British government wants that to change.

Apple suppliers don’t expect big profits from Retina MacBook Air

By

MacBook Air 2018 open
Apple's new MacBook Air is a stunner. But will it be a commercial hit?
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new Retina MacBook Air looks to be one of the more gorgeous laptops in Apple history. However, suppliers reportedly aren’t expecting to be awash with profits thanks to Apple’s orders.

That’s partly because of the price of the laptop, but also because of a bit of belt-tightening on Apple’s part which will reduce how much it has to pay manufacturers.

You can now watch Apple’s iPad and Mac event on YouTube

By

Apple Maps just got a New York update.
Tim Cook getting ready to open a can of Mac and iPad whoop-ass at the "There's More in the Making" event in Brooklyn, New York.
Photo: Apple

Apple has been killing it this year, and this week’s “There’s More in the Making” event was no exception. People tuning in were treated to the unveiling of a new Mac mini, a stunner of an iPad Pro refresh, a gorgeous new MacBook Air, and more. Heck, there was even a super-hot New York crowd thrown in for good measure!

If you missed the event live, there’s now an easier way to see it than ever. That’s because Apple just uploaded the whole 90-minute event to YouTube.

Stockholm rejects Apple’s plans for historic park flagship store

By

Apple Store
This mockup shows how the Apple Store could look.
Photo: Apple/Foster + Partners

Apple chooses some spectacular, historic locations for its Apple Stores — but those spaces don’t always want to be home to trendy retail stores selling expensive smartphones.

In Stockholm, Sweden, the new government has announced that it will block plans for an Apple Store in the Kungsträdgården park. While it welcomes Apple’s arrival in the city, it says that “Kungsträdgården is the wrong place.”

Apple won’t repair your ‘obsolete’ iPhone 5 any more

By

iPhone 5 1
The iPhone 5 was one of the best iPhones Apple ever built.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 5 may be 6 years old at this point, but for many Apple fans this remains one of the greatest iPhone models ever built, and a genuine classic.

Sadly, there’s a bit of bad (if predictable) news from Apple: According to the company’s latest update of “vintage” and “obsolete” devices, the iPhone 5 is now considered too old for Apple repairs.

TV stars grab fat paychecks thanks to Apple’s spending spree

By

Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon could earn a massive payday from Apple.
Photo: HBO

Apple is spending upward of $1 billion on its original TV shows, and it’s not skimping when it comes to star salaries. According to a recent report, Apple is paying out some of the highest salaries to any actors in television shows. It’s even exceeding the amount paid to the stars of shows like The Walking Dead.

It’s another example of how, when you’re a company the size of Apple, you can afford to throw around some serious cash to bring in top talent.

Apple Pay could land in Belgium next month

By

doxo Apple Pay
Apple Pay is gradually expanding its reach.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay is coming to Belgium in November, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reports. It will supposedly be available initially as an exclusive for customers of BNP Paribas Fortis, Belgium’s most popular major bank.

The country already has widespread usage of contactless payments, and has been using Android Pay since early 2017.

Why Apple is Facebook’s ‘biggest competitor by far’

By

Face ID
iMessage gives Apple a big advantage.
Photo: Apple

Mark Zuckerberg says that, when it comes to messaging apps, Apple is Facebook’s “biggest competitor by far.”

That’s because, while apps like Facebook Messenger and the Facebook-owned WhatsApp have to be purposely installed, iMessage comes pre-installed on every iOS device. And that’s not good news for Facebook.

New iPad Pro reminds us how far tech has advanced in 8.5 years

By

Photoshop on iPad
It's amazing what 8.5 years will do!
Photo: Adobe/YouTube

Visually, the new iPad Pro brings back some of the design elements of the original 2010 iPad, especially noticeable with the flattened edges for the device. But how does it stack up in terms of computing power?

Frankly, it blows the original iPad out of the water — which is exactly what you’d expect from 8.5 years of Moore’s Law and engineering prowess. But some of the stats are pretty mind-boggling. Here’s how the 2018 iPad Pro measures up to the O.G. iPad:

iPad Pro bids farewell to the 3.5mm headphone jack

By

Lightning headphone adapter
Apple ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack for the iPhone a few years back.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The amazing new iPad Pro comes with a redesigned form factor and USB-C. But it’s lacking one feature that’ll surely upset a few fans: the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Apple first dropped the legacy port on the iPhone back in 2016 with the iPhone 7. With Apple now no longer making the iPhone 6s and SE, you can’t get a new iPhone with the headphone jack any more. And now it’s gone from the new iPad as well.

Retina MacBook Air may be Apple’s most beautiful laptop ever

By

MacBook Air
Apple's new Retina MacBook Air is a stunner.
Photo: Apple

Ten years after launching the game-changing MacBook Air, Apple took the wraps off the latest iteration of its ultra-thin, affordable laptop. And, boy, does it look great!

Boasting a considerably smaller bezel, a Retina display, a Touch ID sensor and an overall slimmer design, this is the MacBook many will have been waiting for.