New iPhone to stick with iPhone X design, have new colors, bigger screens

Perhaps the most significant phone will be a new, cheaper device destined to replace the iPhone 8.

Technology News: Apple Inc is not only doubling down on the iPhone X, it's tripling down.

The world's most valuable company plans to launch three new iPhones soon that keep the edge-to-edge screen design of last year's flagship, according to people familiar with the matter. The devices will boast a wider range of prices, features and sizes to increase their appeal, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products.

However, none of the three iPhones will be wholly new designs like the iPhone X was last year or the iPhone 6 in 2014, with some inside Apple labelling the launch as an "S year", a designation the company has given to new handsets that retain the previous design but add new internal features. The company is planning more significant changes for next year, they added.

The iPhone X wasn't as big a hit as some Wall Street analysts hoped for before it was released last November. However, it still sold strongly and helped Apple gain share in a smartphone market that has almost stopped growing.

The upcoming iPhone, planned to be unveiled in September, show the company is adjusting its strategy. Rather than luring millions of new iPhone users, Apple's goal these days is to steadily raise average prices, while expanding the total number of active devices to support sales of accessories and digital services like streaming music and video.

There'll be a new high-end iPhone, internally dubbed D33, with a display that measures about 6.5-inch diagonally, according to the people familiar with the matter. That would make it the largest iPhone by far and one of the biggest mainstream phones on the market. It will continue to have a glass back with stainless steel edges and dual cameras on the back. The big difference on the software side will be the ability to view content side-by-side in apps like Mail and Calendar. It will be Apple's second phone with a crisper organic light-emitting diode, or...continue reading

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News Source: BS

Microsoft becomes third most valuable firm, surpasses Alphabet

The credit for Microsoft’s rise goes to its CEO Satya Nadella who has been strategically restructuring the company towards Cloud and Office offerings.

Company News : Microsoft has surpassed Alphabet, the parent company of Google, in the market capitalisation for the first time in three years, becoming the third most valuable firm after Apple and Amazon globally.

According to a report in Investor’s Business Daily late Tuesday, Microsoft had a market cap of $753 billion at the close of trading, almost $14 billion ahead of Alphabet.

Apple leads with a market cap of nearly $924 billion and Amazon is at distant second, with nearly $783 billion.

The credit for Microsoft’s rise goes to its CEO Satya Nadella who has been strategically restructuring the company towards Cloud and Office offerings.

Driven by consistent growth in its Office and Cloud solutions, Microsoft posted a revenue of $26.8 billion and net income of $7.4 billion in its third quarter that ended on March 31.

“We are innovating across key growth categories of infrastructure, AI, productivity and business applications to deliver differentiated value to customers,” Nadella said.

Office commercial products and Cloud services revenue increased 14 per cent — driven by Office 365 commercial revenue growth of 42 per cent.

The Azure cloud offering had 93 per cent revenue growth. Revenue in Productivity and Business Processes was $9 billion and increased 17 per cent in the quarter.

Microsoft now has over 135 million active Office 365 business users, with 30.6 million Office 365 consumer users.

Revenue in Intelligent Cloud was $7.9 billion and increased 17 per cent.

Read More → Most Valuable Firm

Big win for Apple in design patent case: Samsung to pay $533 mn in damages

The jury essentially split the difference between Apple’s request for $1 billion and Samsun’s argument for $28 mn.

International News : A federal court jury on Friday ordered Samsung to pay Apple $533 million for copying iPhone design features in a patent case dating back seven years.

Jurors tacked on an additional $5 million in damages for a pair of patented functions. The award appeared to be a bit of a victory for Apple, which had argued in court that design was essential to the iPhone.

The case was sent back to the district court following a Supreme Court decision to revisit an earlier $400 million damage award. The jury essentially split the difference between Apple’s request for $1 billion and Samsung’s argument for $28 million.

To arrive at a damages award of more than a half-billion dollars, jurors would likely have needed to buy into Apple’s reasoning that design was so integral to the iPhone that it was essentially the “article of manufacture.” The lower figure sought by the South Korean consumer electronics titan would have involved treating the design features as components.

The jury had been asked to determine whether design features at issue in the case are worth all profit made from Samsung smartphones that copied them or whether those features are worth just a fraction because they are components.

“Samsung isn’t saying it isn’t required to pay profits,” Samsung attorney John Quinn said during closing arguments on Friday.

“It is just saying it isn’t required to pay profits on the whole phone.” Apple argued in court that the iPhone was a “bet-the-company” project at Apple and that design is as much the “article of manufacture” as the device itself. The three design patents in the case apply to the shape of the iPhone’s black screen with rounded edges and a bezel, and the rows of colorful icons displayed. Samsung no longer sells the smartphone models at issue in the case. Two utility patents also involved apply to “bounce-back” and “tap-to-zoom” functions.

The case dates back seven years. An original trial finding that Samsung violated Apple patents was followed by lengthy appellate dueling over whether design features such as rounded edges are worth all the money made from a phone.

Read more on → Apple Patent Case

Apple unveils affordable iPad: 9.7-inch display, 8MP camera with Pencil

Apple executives said the company will release a iPad model that works with its Apple Pencil accessory and features an upgraded A10 Fusion chip, the same CPU that powers the iPhone 7.

Technology News : Apple Inc on Tuesday kicked off an event in Chicago where it announced a new iPad that would work with its Apple Pencil accessory aimed at helping it grab more of the U.S. education market.

The tablet will have a starting price of $299 for students and $329 for consumers. Tech companies are battling for dominance in US schools with inexpensive devices and laptops that are geared towards classroom use and seen as a way to hook young consumers.

Education-geared laptops running operating systems by Alphabet Inc’s Google or Microsoft Corp can be had for less than $200.

Apple hit hard on the education theme on Tuesday, with school bells and announcements over a public address system directing press and teachers into an auditorium at Lane Tech College Prep High School. Apple board member and former US Vice President Al Gore mingled with the crowd.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook opened the keynote with a nod to politics, saying “we are deeply inspired by the courage of the students who walked out” and marched on Washington, advocating for stricter gun control laws following a school shooting in Florida. The line elicited loud cheers from students seated at the rear of the auditorium.

The Chicago event comes during a spring buying season when many schools are making purchasing decisions for the upcoming school year.

Apple executives said the company will release Apple new iPad model that works with its Apple Pencil accessory and features an upgraded A10 Fusion chip, the same CPU that powers the iPhone 7. The company also released a new version of its word processing apps for the iPad designed to work with the pencil and allow students to take handwritten notes more easily.

Apple unveils MacBook Pro models with 'touch bar' controller

Apple on Thursday unveiled new MacBook Pro laptops infused with touch control features that have become popular on smartphones.

MacBook Pro models shown off at a special event at Apple's headquarters in Silicon Valley touted keyboards that had "Touch Bar" controls where function keys have traditionally been positioned.

Touch Bar adapts to display controls most relevant to whatever application is being used, from email or typing text to video editing or music mixing, demonstrations showed.

Related Story:  Key Takeaways From The Apple Event: Thinnest MacBook Pro And A New TV App

New MacBook Pro models with 13-inch and 15-inch screens also had "Touch ID" fingerprint reading sensors built into their power button, meaning that people will be able to unlock machines or make online purchases using their finger print to confirm their identity.

Apple Senior Vice-President of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller referred to the new MacBook Pro models as the "gold standard" in notebook computers.

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India can be the next China for Apple: Tim Cook

With iPhone sales growing at a fast clip in India, the last large untapped market globally, CEO Tim Cook is confident that he can turn the country into the next China for Apple.

As sales of the iconic iPhone continue to fall globally, India is emerging as a shining star for Apple. Sales of the flagship devices were up by 50 per cent year-on-year in the 12 months that ended September.

"Our iPhone sales in India were up over 50% in financial year 2016 compared to the prior year, and we believe we're just beginning to scratch the surface of this large and growing market opportunity," said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, in its latest earnings call with investors on Wednesday.

While sales of the iPhone in India are still minuscule in comparison to that of China, a fast growing economy and massive youth population could help Apple develop it into a huge market. Moreover, with 4G infrastructure only bursting onto the scene in the past few months, sales of smartphones in India are expected to accelerate even further.

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Google takes on Apple with Pixel phone, Home assistant

Alphabet’s Google on Tuesday announced a new “Pixel” smartphone and a virtual reality headset, the company’s latest effort to sell consumers on Google-branded devices and to challenge Apple’s iPhone at the high end of the more than $400 billion global market.

The new phone starts at a price of $649, and Google is working with exclusively with Verizon Communications in the US, Google executives said at a launch event in San Francisco. The string of announcements, including a new Wi-Fi router and its voice activated digital assistant for the living room, Home, is the clearest sign yet that Google intends to compete directly with Apple, Amazon.com and even its own Android mobile operating system customers to create a system of devices and hardware that meet every digital need.

The Pixel also represents a more hands-on policy by Google. Google lets Android device makers modify software almost without limit, which has helped make Android the most-used mobile operating system in the world. But company executives boasted that the Pixel was developed in-house from start to finish.

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Two arrested for robbing 1,000 iPhones worth Rs 2.25 crore in Delhi

Two persons have been arrested from Mahipalpur area of south Delhi for allegedly robbing a truck carrying over 1,000 iPhone 5s mobile phones worth Rs 2.25 crore, police said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Mehtab Alam, 24, and Arman, 22, both residents of Mahipalpur. Mehtab Alam was arrested from Mahipalpur while Arman was arrested from Rangpuri area of south Delhi, the police said.

According to the police, the robbery took place on September 13, when the truck was carrying the mobile phones from Okhla area of south Delhi to Dwarka in south-west Delhi.

The two, along with their accomplices, held the truck driver captive before robbing the mobile phones near Rajokri flyover, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Ishwar Singh told reporters.

The officer said the robbers then dumped the driver near Dwarka Link Road.

"During investigation it was found that two robbers — Bhola and Pradeep — were the former drivers of the truck, and had left their jobs two  read full story

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Apple slashes iPhone 6s, 6s Plus prices by Rs 22,000

Apple says initial quantities of iPhone 7 Plus sold out

Apple slashes prices of iPhone 6s, 6s Plus by up to Rs 22,000: Report

Apple has slashed the prices of its smartphones by as much as Rs 22,000, with the Apple iPhone 6s (128GB) seeing its price tag drop from a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 82,000 to Rs 60,000, reported the Times of India on Thursday.

The move comes even as the company said on Wednesday that the initial quantities of the iPhone 7 Plus have sold out globally as it prepares to roll out its new gadget in stores.

Supplies of the larger size of Apple's new phone have been exhausted in all shades, and the smaller iPhone 7 has also sold out in the new jet black colour, the company said.

Here are the new MRPs of the other iPhone models:

1) iPhone 6s Plus (128GB): The 128GB version of the bigger screen variant of Apple Inc's previous flagship will now be available at an MRP of Rs 70,000, after receiving a cut of Rs 22,000, the report said. 

2) iPhone SE (64GB): Launched only earlier this year, the 64GB version of Apple's four-inch smartphone has also got a price cut, from Rs 49,000 to  read more..

ALSO READ: Apple says initial quantities of iPhone 7 Plus sold out

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Google, Apple lock horns with govt over Aadhaar

India's relationship with the global technology industry has become increasingly fraught. This year alone, the government has banned Facebook's free web service and declined to exempt Apple from local sourcing rules and open its own stores. Now, the government could force companies to use technology cooked up in a government-funded lab.

The initiative is part of Aadhaar, the national biometric identity programme.

Millions of people use fingerprint and iris-scan authentication to access a range of public and private services which includes banking, too.

Failure to join the effort could limit the tech industry's access to a vast and growing market, but companies like Apple and Google are expected to resist opening up their phones and operating systems to the country's registration, encryption and security technology.

"There will be a lot of pushing and shoving by the technology companies," says Neeraj Aggarwal, managing director, Boston Consulting Group, India. "It will be a battle of ecosystems, and companies would do their best to hold on to their own."

A few weeks ago, government officials invited executives from Apple, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics and Google to discuss embedding Aadhaar encryption into their technology. None of the companies would comment on  read more..

Starting Rs 60,000, Apple iPhone 7 in India from October 7

Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available for iOS lovers in India beginning October 7 - the last in the list of countries.

Available in silver, gold, rose gold and the new black finish (jet black), iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB models, starting at Rs 60,000.

The new jet black finish will be offered exclusively on the 128GB and 256GB models from Apple authorised resellers and select carriers, the Cupertino-based tech giant announced on Wednesday.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus begins from September 9 and the shipping will start from September 16 first in 25 countries and other countries a week later.

All iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models will include EarPods with "Lightning Connector" and a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, also sold separately for Rs 2,500 and Rs 900, respectively.

"Apple-designed accessories including leather and silicone cases in a range of colours will be available starting at Rs 2,900 and iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case will be offered in read more..

Also read: Apple IPhone 7: 10 Highlights Of The New Flagship Device

Also read: Apple Launches Feature Packed IPhone 7 To Help Reverse Dwindling Sales

Also read: Apple Introduces IPhone 7: Water Resistant, Faster With New Camera

Apple launches feature packed iPhone 7 to help reverse dwindling sales

Apple on Thursday launched the next generation iPhone with the hope to reverse dwindling sales of its best selling device and grow revenues from developed markets such as US and China.

The iPhone 7 brings in several new features while still retaining a design similar to that showcased two years ago with the iPhone 6. However, the device could appeal to upgrade buyers with new finishes including a glossy and dull black. Apple has also made the new iPhone dust and water resistant, another demand from users for years.

"iPhone is the industry gold standard. The phone with which every other phone is compared. There's a reason you see so many iPhones everywhere you look, because we've sold a billion of them. This makes the iPhone the best-selling product of its kind in the history of the world," said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, at the launch event on Thursday.

One of the most loved features, its camera, also got a big upgrade, albeit on the larger iPhone 7 Plus model only. While Apple did upgrade the camera on the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7, the 5.5-inch 7 Plus gets a dual camera setup that uses a regular wide angle in addition to a telephoto lens that will allow users a world of read more..

Also Read: Ireland Backs Appeal Against EU Apple Tax Ruling

Also Read: Apple Introduces IPhone 7: Water Resistant, Faster With New Camera

Apple's new iPhones arrive as glow fades

As it nears its 10th year, the iPhone is maturing.

Apple Inc. on Wednesday will introduce new versions of its flagship smartphone, but they likely won't include the kind of significant new features that Apple consumers have come to expect every other year.

The new models will arrive at a critical juncture: iPhone sales are shrinking for the first time; consumers are waiting longer to upgrade their phones; and Apple faces fresh competition from rivals including Samsung Electronics Co. and Huawei Technologies Co.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Apple plans to eliminate the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, which will make the phone thinner and improve its water resistance. Critics panned the idea.

The Journal said Apple plans more radical changes for next year's models, the iPhone's 10th anniversary.

Apple on Monday declined to comment on "rumors" ahead of Wednesday's announcement.

The iPhone propelled Apple's extraordinary growth in recent years, making it the world's most valuable company.

Apple sold nearly six times as many iPhones in the year ended Sept. 26, 2015, as five years earlier. The phone accounted for nearly two-thirds of the company's revenue.

The glow from Apple's initial large-screen models, introduced in 2014, has faded. Revenue from the iPhone fell 23% in the quarter ended June 25, and Apple shares are down 4.9% over the read more..

Full text of Apple CEO Tim Cook's letter to Europe after $14.5 bn tax hit

Thirty-six years ago, long before introducing iPhone, iPod or even the Mac, Steve Jobs established Apple’s first operations in Europe. At the time, the company knew that in order to serve customers in Europe, it would need a base there. So, in October 1980, Apple opened a factory in Cork, Ireland with 60 employees.

At the time, Cork was suffering from high unemployment and extremely low economic investment. But Apple’s leaders saw a community rich with talent, and one they believed could accommodate growth if the company was fortunate enough to succeed.

We have operated continuously in Cork ever since, even through periods of uncertainty about our own business, and today we employ nearly 6,000 people across Ireland. The vast majority are still in Cork — including some of the very first employees — now performing a wide variety of functions as part of Apple’s global footprint. Countless multinational companies followed Apple by investing in Cork, and today the local economy is stronger than ever.

The success which has propelled Apple’s growth in Cork comes from innovative products that delight our customers. It has helped create and sustain more than 1.5 million jobs across Europe — jobs at Apple, jobs for hundreds of thousands of creative app developers who thrive on the App Store, and jobs with manufacturers read more..

ALSO READ: EU hits Apple with $14.5-bn Irish tax demand

ALSO READ: Apple says will appeal against EU tax decision