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Luke Dormehl - page 182

Apple comes under fire for banning anti-abortion app

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app
The "banned" app lets you pray in real-time.
Photo: Human Coalition

Apple has reportedly banned an anti-abortion app from the App Store after complaints were made about it from “left-wing bloggers.”

Among the features of the Human Coalition app is a “Prayer Feed,” where users can access a real-time map of the United States, allowing them to join in with the prayers of other users on behalf of “abortion-determined families.”

Apple forms new app partnership with General Electric

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GE
Two of America's titans of industry are teaming up.
Photo: Bubba73/Wikipedia

Apple and General Electric (GE) are teaming up to allow iOS apps to take advantage of the predictive data and analytics from Predix, GE’s industrial Internet of Things platform.

“GE is an ideal partner with a rich history of innovation across the industrial world in areas like aviation, manufacturing, healthcare and energy,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “Together, Apple and GE are fundamentally changing how the industrial world works by combining GE’s Predix platform with the power and simplicity of iPhone and iPad.”

Qualcomm CEO says war with Apple will end if the money is right

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Qualcomm patents
An end is in sight. Or at least it could be.
Photo: Qualcomm

Speaking on stage at the Wall Street Journal’s D.Live tech conference, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said that he thinks that the company’s feud with Apple can be resolved — so long as the right fee is negotiated.

“At the end, the important thing to remember is this is fundamentally a discussion about pricing over the fundamental technology that makes the phone the phone,” Mollenkopf said. “It comes down to, how much are you going to pay?”

Smart speakers could invade homes faster than any other gadget

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Apple's new HomePod smart speaker is ready to rock your house.
Smart speakers could be fastest consumer device ever to hit 50 percent adoption.
Photo: Apple

Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, Google Home, and forthcoming Apple HomePod could become the fastest consumer device in history to hit 50 percent adoption levels, claims Activate CEO Michael J. Wolf.

For those keeping track at home, that’s faster than smartphones, television, cars, the internet, and personal computers.

iPhone X will drive a worldwide spike in smartphone sales

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iPhone X keynote
iPhone X is going to have a big impact on worldwide device sales.
Photo: Apple

The expected success of the iPhone X could help drive worldwide device shipments — comprising smartphones, tablets, and PCs — to their highest level of growth since 2015, a new report claims.

Figures released by data analysis firm Gartner suggests that total device shipments are predicted to exceed 2.35 billion units in 2018, an increase of 2 percent from this year. The firm notes that the iPhone X is likely to be a big sales driver in the United States, China and Western Europe, despite its $1,000+ price.

Sci-fi puzzler Returner 77 lands on iOS this week

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games
A treat for the brain and the eyes alike.
Photo: Returner 77

I’m a big sucker for iOS puzzle games, and I love beautiful, sweeping sci-fi games which show off the graphical capabilities of the iPhone and iPad by creating otherworldly space vistas to explore.

Imagine my excitement then at the upcoming Returner 77, an intriguing blend of both genres which will be arriving in the App Store this week. Check out the stunning trailer below.

Apple’s massive health push could mean its own medical clinics

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apple store
An Apple store-style health clinic, anyone?
Photo: Apple

As part of its push into mobile health, Apple was reportedly in “deep talks” to buy Crossover Health, a health clinic company, which has offered employee healthcare to tech companies including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and others.

The acquisition would have put Apple in charge of a string of health clinics, which it could potentially have run like healthcare versions of the Apple store. However, despite stretching on for months, no deal ultimately materialized.

iPhone X component suppliers beat teething troubles

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iphone x
Supply should meet demand early next year.
Photo: Apple

After running into multiple problems building its next-gen iPhone X, Apple’s suppliers have reportedly achieved more stable yield rates for troublesome components.

As we noted yesterday, the first batch of iPhone X handsets has now been shipped out, and further shipments of the device are expected to “grow substantially” after October, according to sources in Apple’s supply chain.

Greenpeace says Apple is almost top of the class, but could do better

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Green
Apple is (almost) leading the pack.
Photo: Greenpeace

Greenpeace has praised Apple’s energy initiatives in its new Guide to Greener Electronics report, although it notes that there is still work to be done in other areas.

Drilling down, Greenpeace awards Apple A- on its efforts involving sustainable energy, a B for its use of hazardous chemicals, and a C for resource consumption. Overall, the environmental non-profit awards Apple a B- for its efforts in this area, which is considerably higher than tech rivals Microsoft (C-), Sony (D+), Google (D+), Samsung (D-), and Amazon (F) — although lower than Fairphone (A).

Apple Park campus expands in new flyover footage

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Apple Park flyover
The campus Apple deserves.
Photo: Matthew Roberts

Another month, another Apple Park flyover, revealing just just how far Apple’s impressive campus has come along since construction began.

As the October drone video shows, the HQ is now virtually complete, with much of the remaining work being finishing touches for the landscaping. Trees are being moved in, paths are being put into place, a basketball and tennis court is also in progress, while the visitor’s center is now finished. Check out the video below.

Huawei could overtake iPhone market share this year

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Huawei
The world's new no. 1 smartphone maker?
Photo: AndroidCentral

According to International Data Corp., Chinese handset maker Huawei could be poised to overtake Apple in the smartphone market this year or next.

In the second quarter of this year, Huawei’s market share was around 11.3 percent with shipments of 38.5 million, compared to Apple’s 12 percent market share with 41 million shipments.

Foxconn has apparently shipped out its first batch of iPhone X orders

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iPhone X keynote
Are you planning to get an iPhone X?
Photo: Apple

Two weeks ahead of the iPhone X shipping, Apple supplier Foxconn has reportedly sent out its first batch of finished handsets to Apple.

According to a new report, Foxconn has sent out 46,500 units from its facilities in Zhengzhou and Shanghai, headed for the Netherlands and United Arab Emirates (UAE), respectively.

Apple’s VP of Diversity walks back recent controversial comments

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diversity Apple
Denise Young Smith shared her thoughts with colleagues following the comments.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity Denise Young Smith has apologized for comments she made about Apple’s commitment to inclusiveness.

Speaking at the One Young World Summit in Bogotá, Colombia last week, Smith made a comment defending diversity that’s not about skin color or gender, but rather lived experiences — therefore allowing a group of “12 white blue-eyed blond men” to be considered diverse.

However, despite meaning well with the comment, Young’s response was criticized by some commentators, who felt it undermined the need for greater diversity in tech by suggesting a company could remain overwhelmingly white and male, while still considering itself diverse. Read Denise Young Smith’s response letter to Apple employees below.

Google Opinion Rewards, The Talos Principle, and other awesome apps

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A Google app which lets you earn real money for basically no work is just one of the picks we’ve made for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week” roundup.

In addition, we’ve got a great artificial intelligence-themed puzzle game, a nifty email app update, and a camera app which lets you double the number of videos you can store on your iOS device. Check out our selections for the week’s most notable apps below.

Future iPhone could get Galaxy Note-style stylus

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Apple Pencil
Future iPhone could benefit from the shrunk-down Apple Pencil.
Photo: Apple

Whether it’s Touch ID or Siri, we’re used to seeing hot iPhone features make their way across to the iPad. However, a new report suggests that we may soon see the opposite phenomenon: the arrival of an iPad-style Apple Pencil arrive on the iPhone.

According to “an industry source,” Apple is preparing to launch an iPhone as early as 2019 that will include a stylus. Apple is said to be in talks with several stylus makers, suggesting that this wouldn’t simply be adding iPhone support for the existing Apple Pencil, but instead the creation of something new.

Tim Cook visits Swedish supplier of Apple’s sustainable packaging

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sustainable packaging
This should really be a caption contest.
Photo: Tim Cook

As part of his trip to Europe, Tim Cook visited a forest in northern Sweden with a representative from one of the companies which supplies Apple’s sustainably sourced packaging.

On Twitter, Cook described the “breathtaking forests,” which he got to experience with employees from Iggesund Paperboard, a supplier that that has been working to provide Apple with packaging for its various devices for more than 10 years. As part of his trip, Cook symbolically planted some pine trees.

Samsung CEO resigns, citing ‘unprecedented crisis’

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Galaxy Note 8
Samsung CEO quits, despite record earnings projections.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung is in meltdown mode after CEO Kwon Oh-hyun, who has worked at the company for 32 years, announced his resignation today, citing an “unprecedented crisis.”

Kwon Oh-hyun will officially step down as chief executive and vice chairman in March. The news comes not long after Samsung’s vice chairman was sentenced to five years in prison for corruption, the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, but also just as Samsung is projecting record quarterly profits.

ARKit downloads dominated by games so far

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ARgames
AR games account for the majority of app downloads and revenue made.
Photo: Sensor Tower

The vast majority of augmented reality ARKit apps released so far have been games, according to a breakdown release by analytics firm Sensor Tower Intelligence.

Combing over the AR apps released since iOS 11 launched on September 19, reveals that games represent around 35 percent of ARKit-only apps worldwide, followed by utilities (19 percent), other entertainment (11 percent), education (7 percent), photo and video apps (6 percent), and lifestyle (5 percent). The “other” category — for those apps which don’t fall into any of these genres — accounts for the remaining 8 percent.

Pokémon Go hands out prizes for coolest AR photographs

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Pokemon Go
There's a new reason to play Pokémon GO.
Photo: Niantic

In an attempt to capitalize on current headlines about augmented reality, Pokémon Go developer Niantic has launched an AR photography contest within the app.

Through October 25, users can snap a photo in the game and then upload it to Instagram using the tag #PokemonGoContest. If your image is one of the top 10 submissions, you’ll win a Pokémon Go prize pack containing a Pokémon Go Plus accessory, a poster autographed by the Pokémon Go team, and Bluetooth earbuds.

A crucial iPhone X chip is now reportedly on its way to Apple

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Face ID
Face ID is one of the top features of the iPhone X.
Photo: Apple

Himax Technologies, one of Apple’s suppliers, has reportedly started shipping one of the key components for the iPhone X’s Face ID sensor to Apple.

Alongside the edge-to-edge Super Retina display of the new handset, Face ID is one of the most attention grabbing features of the new iPhone. However, production problems have also made it one of Apple’s biggest pain points — and a reason why supplies of the iPhone X are likely to be so limited early on.

After 2 years of delays, Apple’s Irish data center can finally proceed

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Politicians receive frightening threats about cancelled Apple data center
A look at Apple's data center as it will appear when it's finished.
Photo: Apple

A court in Dublin, Ireland has determined that Apple has permission to officially start work building its 850 million euro ($960 million) data center in Athenry, County Galway.

The new data center was given the go-ahead over two years ago, but has been hit with numerous delays since then due to legal issues. The giant data center will help power Apple Music, the App Store, iMessages, Maps and Siri.

Tim Cook opens up new Oxford Foundry facility in the U.K.

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Cook
Tim Cook shared his thoughts with future entrepreneurs.
Photo: Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Tim Cook made an appearance in the U.K. yesterday to open The Oxford Foundry, a new Oxford University venue that’s focused on developing entrepreneurial skills for students and future entrepreneurs.

In a wide-ranging conversation on stage, Cook discussed everything from his approach to innovation to when to listen to customers (and when not to). Check out a video below.

Apple and other tech giants battle Chinese intellectual property theft

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Apple Store
Apple has faced challenges growing its brand in China.
Photo: Apple

Chinese companies copying Silicon Valley tech giants, and thereby infringing on intellectual property rights, is something that has been an issue for years.

It seems that U.S. tech companies are striking back, however, with a trade group that represents companies including Apple, Google, and IBM speaking out against Chinese regulators at an International Trade Commission hearing this week.

Qualcomm’s massive antitrust fine is good news for Apple

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Qualcomm patents
Apple and Qualcomm have been battling throughout 2017.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm has suffered another blow in its battle with Apple after being fined a record $773 million by Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission for alleged antitrust violations over a period of at least seven years.

Specifically, the fine involves Qualcomm’s collection of NT$400 billion ($13.2 billion) in licensing fees from local companies. The Taiwanese regulator hammered Qualcomm’s monopolistic market status for not providing products to clients who won’t agree to its terms and conditions.

Woz: Aspects of Steve Jobs’ personality were ‘very Trumpish’

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Steve Jobs had one or two things in common with our current President, Steve Wozniak says.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Aspects of Steve Jobs’ personality strike former Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak as, “very Trumpish,” Woz reportedly told an audience Tuesday night at Carnegie Music Hall as part of the American Middle East Institute’s 10th Conference.

Specifically, Woz seems to have been referring to Jobs cheating Woz out of some of the money for an early project the two collaborated on at Atari, his failure to listen, and tendency to say nasty things to people.