China - page 6

Activist shareholders push Apple on why it booted Hong Kong protest app

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Activist shareholders push Apple on why it booted Hong Kong protest app
Apple banned the HKmap.live app earlier this year.
Photo: Fredrik Rubensson/Flickr CC

Activist shareholders will use Apple’s annual meeting in 2020 to push Apple on why it removed a mapping app used by protesters in Hong Kong.

Beijing reportedly pressured Apple to remove the app from the App Store. At the time, Tim Cook defended Apple’s decision to pull the app after saying it had received “credible information” that the app was being used to help commit violence against individuals and property.

Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads

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Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads
That's good news for Apple and its customers.
Photo: White House

Apple has been given a welcome reprieve on tariffs for the iPhone, iPad and Mac after President Donald Trump agreed to a limited trade deal with China on Thursday.

The phase one agreement means rolling back existing tariff rates on Chinese goods and canceling new tariff rates that would have gone into effect Sunday.

Analyst claims iPhone shipments collapsed 35% in China last month

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
But is it accurate?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone shipments in China reportedly had a rough time in November. According to Credit Suisse analyst Matt Cabral, iPhone shipments declined “meaningfully” last month — to the tune of approximately 35.4% year-on-year.

If true, that’s lagging far behind the rest of the Chinese smartphone market, which increased 0.2% year-on-year.

US Senator proposes new law aimed at limiting Apple data flow to China

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China
Tim Cook meeting with China's vice premier.
Photo: Tim Cook

One of tech’s biggest opponents in Washington D.C. proposed a new bill this week that could have huge implications on Apple and TikTok’s business operations if put into law.

GOP senator Josh Hawley from Missouri introduced legislation today that would prevent the Chinese company that owns TikTok from collecting information on American users and sharing it with the Communist Party of China. The bill would also stop American companies like Apple from storing user data in China.

iPhone sales are finally rebounding in China

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iPhone sales are finally rebounding in China
iPhone sales struggled in China last year.
Photo: Tim Cook/Weibo

iPhone sales seem to be rebounding in China. According to a new report, based on government data, Apple shipped 10 million iPhones in China during September and October. That’s an increase of 6% from one year earlier.

It indicates that the iPhone 11 series is seemingly selling better the its predecessors, the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. Those were the handsets that caused Tim Cook to cut Apple forecasts due to weaker than expected sales in China.

Woman temporarily goes blind in one eye after smartphone overuse

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Woman in China temporarily goes blind in one eye after smartphone overuse
An admittedly extreme example of smartphone overuse.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Well, here’s a reason to listen to the recommendations of Apple’s Screen Time feature! A woman in China reportedly suffered a grisly injury after going temporarily blind in one eye due to excessive strain from overuse of her smartphone.

The female patient’s retina burst from “excessive strain” after spending too long using her mobile device.

Billionaire’s son who bought Apple Watches for his dog lands on China’s credit blacklist

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Billionaire's son who bought Apple Watches for his dog lands on China's 'discredited' list
He seemed so careful with his cash, too.
Photo: Wang Sicong

The son of a Chinese billionaire who infamously bought two luxury Apple Watch Editions for his pet dog has been placed on the country’s official list of financially discredited individuals.

A court decision means that he can no longer fly first class, go on expensive vacations, or buy luxury products. Unless he’s bought new Apple Watches in the meantime, that should severely curtail his pet’s future time-keeping abilities!

Apple and TikTok both absent from congressional hearing about tech in China

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
Tim Cook has said that China represents Apple's future biggest market.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple and Chinese music video app TikToks were the two holdouts at a U.S. congressional hearing Tuesday regarding the tech industry and China. Both were represented by empty seats.

Republican senator Josh Hawley slammed the two as “two sides of the same coin when it comes to data security.” TikTok represents the entry of Chinese tech platforms into the U.S., Hawley said. Meanwhile, Apple represents “the danger of American tech companies’ operations in China.”

Chinese smartphone CEO who made his name dissing Apple declared a ‘deadbeat’

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Chinese smartphone CEO who made his name dissing Apple declared a 'deadbeat'
Smartisan CEO said that Apple lost its soul after Steve Jobs died.
Photo: Allogo Wang/Flickr CC

The founder of a Chinese smartphone company which has been a vocal critic of Apple has landed on China’s official list of deadbeats. This is a national database held by China’s Supreme Court which can be described as a credit blacklist.

Smartisan Technology CEO Luo Yonghao is barred from taking flights or high-speed train journeys. He can also no longer stay in luxury hotels, spend money in nightclubs, or buy property.

Apple’s business in China may be starting to stabilize

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iPhone sales are finally rebounding in China
Tim Cook has said that China is Apple's future.
Photo: Tim Cook/Weibo

China has been one of the biggest causes of Apple instability in recent times, particularly when it comes to trade tensions between China and the United States. Things may be starting to stabilize, however, as Tim Cook noted in Apple’s earnings call yesterday.

That’s good news when it comes to the country Cook has said is Apple’s future biggest customer.

Everything you need to know before Apple’s last earnings call of 2019

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Earnings call
Get ready for another record breaking quarter.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple is ready to unveil its last earnings report of 2019 this week, and investors are anxiously waiting to hear some good news on iPhone sales.

All early indications point to sales of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro performing even better than expected. But because the new devices were only on sale for the very tail end of the quarter, they might not have given Apple the growth Wall Street is desperate to see.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to divulge all the details for Apple’s fiscal Q4 2019 earnings on Wednesday, October 30, at 2 p.m. PDT. Per usual, Cult of Mac will be analyzing all the data right when it drops and there are a couple of areas and metrics that are key to keeping Apple’s stock price soaring.

Apple awarded prize for ‘environmental leadership’ in China

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Apple awarded prize for 'environmental leadership' in China
Apple has pushed its supply chain to shape-up on environmental issues.
Photo: Apple

Apple has scooped up a first-of-its-kind prize for its environmental work in China.

The company was awarded the Green Supply Chain CITI Outstanding Brand title for “environmental leadership” across its entire supply chain. It’s a recognition of all the work Apple has done in the country.

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.

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.