Europe - page 2

Tim Cook talks taxes and failed Irish data center in new interview

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brand intimacy
Apple CEO Tim Cook likes to get close to the fans.
Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter

Apple CEO Tim Cook made a quick stop in Ireland this week where he promised the country he’s interested in it for more than its sweet tax rate.

The company’s relationship with Ireland has been rocky the last year. Apple scrapped plans to build a billion-dollar data center and lost its tax deal, but Cook says he’s still as committed to the country as ever.

Apple brings its ‘Everyone Can Code’ course to new countries

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Code
Apple wants to bring its Swift focused curriculum to as many people as possible around the world.
Photo: Apple

Apple today announced that it is expanding its “Everyone Can Code” initiative to 70 colleges and universities in Europe, bringing its syllabus focused on app-making with Swift to more users outside of the U.S.

The expansion covers educational institutes in the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal.

Apple coughs up millions for extra U.K. taxes

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Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
Apple is handing over an extra $186 million in U.K. taxes.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple Europe has agreed to pay an additional $186 million, including interest on unpaid tax, after an “extensive audit” by HM Revenue and Customs, the U.K. government department responsible for the collection of taxes.

The “corporate income tax adjustment” in the United Kingdom covers the years through September 2015, and reflects Apple’s “increased activity” during that period. The adjustment will be factored into future tax bills paid by Apple.

Apple urged to bring emergency location feature to iPhone

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iPhone 911
iPhone users are at risk without this feature.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has been urged to bring an emergency location feature that could save countless lives to the iPhone.

Advanced Mobile Location (AML), a technology that allows the emergency services to more accurately locate a person in danger, was brought to Android over a year ago — but it still isn’t available in iOS.

Android creator’s Essential Phone will fight iPhone worldwide

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Essential Phone
Essential Phone will expand its reach to new markets.
Photo: Essential

The Essential Phone, built by Android creator Andy Rubin, will do battle against the iPhone in new markets around the world.

For now, the device is only available to those in the U.S. — but Essential is already in talks with carriers in the U.K., Europe, and Japan as it looks to expand its reach.

Europe wants to loosen Apple’s control on device repairs

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iPad Mini 4 teardown by iFixit
The EU wants gadgets that are easier to fix and upgrade.
Photo: iFixit

Future iPhones and MacBooks will be more robust and easier to repair if the European Commission has its way.

Parliament is pushing for gadget makers like Apple to prolong the lifespan of their products by eliminating planned obsolescence and making it easier for consumers to repair and upgrade their devices.

Europe just abolished all roaming charges

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sim wallet roaming
This doesn't have to be you.
Photo: CC Karl Baron Flickr

Today, roaming charges have been dropped across the European Union. If you live in Berlin and travel to Budapest, you can keep using your existing data plan at no extra cost, and you keep (more or less) the same data allowance. That’s neat for Europeans, but it’s also good news for international travelers, because you only need to buy one SIM card at the start of your trip, and then you’re covered until you go home.

Laptop and tablet ban on flights from Europe won’t happen after all

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Emirates
Emirates is one of the airlines affected by the ban.
Photo: Emirates

The Trump administration won’t be expanding its ban on the use of laptops, tablets and other large electronic devices to flights entering the United States from European airports, after all.

U.S. and EU officials reportedly decided against a ban on laptops and tablets in cabin baggage on flights from Europe, although “other measures” designed to keep passengers safe are still being weighed up.

Take a look inside Apple’s new flagship store in Germany

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Apple's new store on Europe's busiest shopping street.
Apple's new store on Europe's busiest shopping street.
Photo: Macerkopf

The newest Apple store in Germany is ditching the Genius Bar, but it will have a boardroom.

Apple is set to open its second store in Cologne, Germany this weekend and early photos have already revealed some of the new features, like an area dedicated entirely to business that is becoming a staple at other flagship stores.

iOS grows as iPhone 7 remains a top seller

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iOS and Android are killing off the competition.
iOS and Android are killing off the competition.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS saw continued growth in almost every market around the world last quarter, according to the latest data, while iPhone 7 remains a top seller in key countries.

Android also achieved market share increases in every region but the U.S., while BlackBerry, Windows, and other mobile operating systems continue to die out.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar now shipping in the U.K. and Europe

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macbook pro
Is yours on its way yet?
Photo: Apple

Apple has started shipping out the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to customers in the U.K. and the rest of Europe.

Those who places an order before shipping dates slipped started to see their order status change to “preparing for shipment” on Monday, and many are reporting their new machine has now shipped this morning.

Android stealing market share from the iPhone the world over

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android-stealing-market-share-from-the-iphone-the-world-over-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201604iPhone-SE-Galaxy-S7-jpg
iPhone SE to the rescue?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Android
iPhone SE with Galaxy S7
iPhone SE to the rescue? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Android

Apple’s new iPhone SE might be able to take sales from Android in some emerging markets, but it certainly won’t be able to stem the bleeding in many countries, where Google’s platform continues to rob iOS of its market share.

According to the latest figures, Android is up in China, Europe, and even the U.S. as the iPhone’s share falls.

European court rules Apple and other tech companies are violating privacy

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The European Court of Justice just handed down a disruptive ruling.
The European Court of Justice just handed down a disruptive ruling.
Photo: Cédric Puisney/FlickrCC

In a landmark decision Tuesday, the European Court of Justice ruled that European Union regulators can override the Safe Harbor agreement, a 15-year-old accord that has — until now — allowed Apple, Google, Facebook, and about 4,500 other U.S. companies to transfer data from European users to the U.S.

The court believes that the current agreement violates European citizens’ right to privacy by exposing their private data to the U.S. government through the American companies’ cooperation with U.S. intelligence agencies.

27% of smartphone buyers in Europe swapped Android for iPhone last quarter

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27-of-smartphone-buyers-in-europe-swapped-android-for-iphone-last-quarter-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201504iPhone-6-Plus-vs-Note-4-jpg
Consumers aren’t bored of the iPhone 6 yet.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Apple’s iPhones might be on the verge of a big refresh this month, but that doesn’t make them any less appealing to those looking to take a break from Android.

In Europe, 27 percent of smartphone shoppers swapped their Android for an iPhone last quarter, while 9 percent of consumers made the same switch in the U.S.

iPhone is killing it in Europe thanks to Android switchers

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Photo: Cult of Android
Photo: Cult of Android

Europe was supplanted by China this past quarter as the second most important market for Apple, but according to a new report from Kantar, the iPhone-maker is gaining grown in Europe thanks to Android switchers.

Over 30% of Apple’s new customers in Europe last quarter switched over from Android. All the new converts have pushed iOS’ marketshare in Europes five largest countries to 20.3%, marking a 1.8% increase from 2014.

Check out the graph below:

Apple Pay could be coming to Europe as early as mid-April

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This scene could be coming to Europe before too long. GIF: Buster Hein/ Cult of Mac
This scene could be coming to Europe before too long. GIF: Buster Hein/ Cult of Mac

The question of when European iPhone owners can expect to start using Apple Pay may be answered sooner rather than later. Visa Europe has announced that it is putting in place the infrastructure to allow contactless payment terminals to support the “tokenization” service used by Apple Pay.

The technology will be in place by mid-April, after which Apple could theoretically introduce Apple Pay anytime it wishes.

Apple increases Dev Program membership prices in Europe

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You now have to pay more to become an App Store developer. Photo: Apple
You now have to pay more to become an App Store developer. Photo: Apple

Apple has today increased the annual subscription cost of its Mac and iOS Developer Programs in several countries across Europe. While the prices remain the same at $99 in the U.S., Europeans can now expect to pay anything from $96 to $121, depending on where they live.