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Apple denies it sends everyone’s browser data to Chinese company

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China’s population of 1.4 billion makes it a huge potential market for Apple.
Apple isn’t using the Fraudulent Website Warning to help a Chinese company spy on your web browser.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple refutes accusations that it sends information from every iPhone’s and Mac’s Safari browser to China’s Tencent. These are apparently based on a vaguely-worded explanation in Settings which Apple just clarified.

Safari does use a list of fraudulent websites compiled by this Chinese company to protect users, but only if these users are themselves located in China.

Apple under fire for sending browsing data to China

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pin safari tabs
Apple seemingly has a new relationship with Tencent.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple is under fire for sending Safari browser data to China.

It is known that Safari can send information to Google Safe Browsing to protect users against online phishing and scams. But it seems Apple’s browser is also sending similar data to Tencent in China.

Hong Kong legislator warns Apple against being ‘accomplice’ to China

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
Apple faces big challenges in China.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Prominent Hong Kong legislator and IT entrepreneur Charles Mok has warned that Apple risks becoming an accomplice for “censorship and oppression” in China.

In an open letter to Tim Cook, Mok referenced Apple’s removal of a recent app which allowed protesters to track the whereabouts of Hong Kong police. Tim Cook has defended the app’s removal, which came after Chinese state media criticized Apple for allowing it in the App Store.

Apple pulls two apps from China App Store due to government demands

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
Apple is one of a number of multinationals who face challenges in China.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has reportedly removed the Quartz news app from the Chinese App Store by request of the China government. According to Quartz‘ investigations editor, this is due to their, “excellent coverage of ongoing Hong Kong protests.”

The company also banned an app that let Hong Kong protesters track Hong Kong police. This came one day after Chinese state media blasted Apple for not getting rid of it.

China state media slams Apple for app used by Hong Kong protesters

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China state media slams Apple for app used by Hong Kong protestors
App helps protesters track police presence in Hong Kong.
Photo: HKMap Live

China’s state media took a swipe at Apple for allowing an app that let Hong Kong protesters track the location of police back into the App Store. The app, called Hkmap Live, uses reports from a Telegram group to share information about things like arrests and the use of weapons such as tear gas.

Apple originally booted the app from the App Store, but apparently reversed its decision.

iPhone 11 sales estimates rising after surprisingly strong demand

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iPhone 11 colors
iPhone 11 is enjoying stronger demand than analysts anticipated.
Photo: Apple

Analysts have started raising iPhone 11 shipping estimates after surprisingly strong demand for Apple’s newest handsets.

Initial stock of most models quickly sold out after Apple starting accepting preorders on Friday, September 13. It seems fans are particularly interested in the brand new color options.

Immediate reaction to iPhone 11 muted in India and China

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iPhone 11 launch
iPhone 11 may not be the handsets which turn things around for Apple in China and India.
Photo: Apple

Immediate reactions to the iPhone 11 in China and India have been somewhat muted, initial analyst and social media comments suggest.

While the handsets have yet to go on sale, it hints that this year’s refresh may not be game-changers in the world’s two most populated markets.

New China tariffs could cost average U.S. household $1,000 per year

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Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
Apple hasn't yet revealed if it's ramping up prices.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

New tariffs on imported Chinese products in the escalating U.S. vs. China trade war could cost the average household $1,000 per year, J.P. Morgan Chase claims.

The first round of tariffs went into effect Sunday at 12:01 a.m. They mean that various products, including some Apple devices, are taxed at 15% upon entering the U.S.

Apple is relying on factories in China more than ever

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
China continues to be the epicenter of Apple's manufacturing.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple may be trying to wean itself off manufacturing in China, but despite its use of factories in Brazil and India, it’s actually relying on China more than ever.

According to Reuters, the majority of Apple suppliers have become increasingly concentrated in China. Although Apple uses small factories outside the country, these are typically used only for small domestic runs.

Trump admits his tariffs could give Samsung an advantage over Apple

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Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Apple CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump appear to have a good working relationship.
Photo: White House

During a Friday-night dinner with Donald Trump, Apple CEO Tim Cook very nearly convinced the president that import taxes planned for iPhone and other products would benefit Samsung.

Apple will pay proposed tariffs on products imported from China, while Korea-based Samsung — Cupertino’s chief competitor — will not.

Apple readying up to 80 million iPhone 11 units for next month

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iPhone 11 Max on colorful background
Apple's got a whole heap of iPhones ready to unleash on customers.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple is readying 75 million 80 million iPhones ahead of next month’s iPhone 11 launch, says Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives.

Despite some of his gloomier peers “yelling fire in a crowded theater” about Apple, he’s confident about Apple’s future. That’s even with the ongoing U.S. vs. China trade tensions looming menacingly in the background.

Trump delays tariffs on iPhone, Mac and iPad

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iPad and iPhone tariffs aren't happening. Yet.
You won’t have to pay extra for an iPad imported from China next month.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Shares of Apple jumped over 4% after iPhones were removed from the list of items that will be hit with import taxes at the beginning of September.

However, tariffs could still go into effect for phones, Macs, and other Apple products in mid December.

China tariffs may not make iPhones more expensive for customers

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iPhone XS Max
Ming-Chi Kuo thinks Apple will absorb the cost of increased import duties.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Don’t panic: the introduction of new import tariffs by President Trump isn’t going to make the next iPhone even more expensive!

That’s the message from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his latest note to client, Kuo says that he thinks Apple will absorb the cost of any tariffs, rather than pass them on to customers.

Apple Watch Activity Challenge celebrates China’s National Fitness Day

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National Fitness Day
Competition is only available in China, sadly. But don't let that stop you exercising!
Photo: Apple

Apple is celebrating China’s National Fitness Day with a new Apple Watch Activity challenge. August 8 was first named National Fitness day in 2009, commemorating the anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening.

To complete the National Fitness Day challenge, users will need to record a workout of half an hour or longer.

Apple wants to build new Mac Pro in US

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Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR orders start Tuesday
Who knew?
Photo: Apple

Apple would prefer to build the upcoming Mac Pro in the United States. In fact, the company is trying to make it happen, CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday.

“We’ve been making the Mac Pro in the United States and we want to continue doing that,” Cook said during Apple’s earnings call. “We’re working and investing currently in the capacity to do so. We want to continue to be there.”

5 key things to watch for in Apple’s most boring earnings report of 2019

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Earnings call
Apple's Q1 2020 earnings report will probably break some records.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The most yawn-inducing Apple earnings call of the year is just days away, and Wall Street is eagerly anticipating the results — though maybe for reasons you wouldn’t expect.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are scheduled to hop on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific next Tuesday for Apple’s Q3 2019 earnings call. Even though Apple doesn’t reveal quarterly sales for iPhones anymore, there are a lot of metrics to look for that could clue us in on how well or poorly the company is performing lately.

Keep an ear out for these five things during Apple’s July 30 earnings call.

Trump: Apple won’t receive special treatment for Mac Pro parts

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Mac Pro cheese grater
You might be better off with iMac Pro instead.
Photo: Apple

President Donald Trump said Friday that Apple will not receive special treatment for Mac Pro components made in China.

Apple submitted multiple requests asking the Trump administration to exclude certain Mac Pro parts from a 25% import tariff. But Trump says the U.S. government will not extend any special waivers or relief to Cupertino.

“Make them in the USA,” Trump tweeted.

Apple could make AirPods outside China for first time

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Bounce ad for AirPods1
Apple is looking at new places to build its devices.
Photo: Apple

Apple is gearing up to carry out a trial production of AirPods in Vietnam. This is as part of Apple’s aim to expand manufacturing outside of China.

Earlier this summer, Apple asked its suppliers to explore manufacturing in other markets. This was at a time when concerns about possible China tariffs were at their height.

Apple kicks off China app accelerator with ARKit workshop

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Apple China
Apple kicked off the Accelerator program with a workshop focused on augmented reality.
Photo: Apple

Apple has opened a new Design and Development Accelerator in China to promote app development in the country.

Located in Shanghai, the accelerator features a range of lectures, workshops, networking events and more covering all of Apple’s different platforms.

Apple should sue Xiaomi for its blatant copying — but it won’t

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Xiaomi Mimoji look very familiar.
Mimoji is one of many products Xiaomi has ripped from Apple.
Photo: Xiaomi

Xiaomi has a history of shamelessly ripping off bigger brands, and nine times out of ten, its chosen target is Apple.

The Chinese company has previously cloned the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and more — without a single shred of fear that it might one day feel the wrath of Apple’s legal department.

Xiaomi’s latest ripoff is its own version of Memoji, and it brazenly stole Apple’s own commercials to promote it on a number of retail channels this week.

Here’s how Xiaomi gets away with it.