Apple's iMessage targeted by Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO, says cybersecurity watchdog

Apple's iMessage targeted by Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO, says cybersecurity watchdog

Apple's iMessage targeted by Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO, says cybersecurity watchdog Test

Apple unveiled 'MagSafe Battery Pack' that attaches onto the rear of the iPhone 12 to provide more battery life.

It will assist consumers in getting more battery life out of their iPhones if they are nearing the end of their battery life.

One of the magnetic batteries costs $99 and is available for purchase on Apple's website.

Apple has previously sold iPhone battery cases, but the latest pack uses inbuilt magnets to attach to the iPhone 12 phones. 
 
<img alt=" MagSafe Battery Pack" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5e2f5d07-0426-493f-bae6-f3f65dcdf35c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Iphone.JPG" />

It will also function with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, as well as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini.

It works directly with the iPhone's operating system to display additional battery life in iOS, just like other Apple accessories.

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple unveiled 'MagSafe Battery Pack' that attaches onto the rear of the iPhone 12 to provide more battery life. It will assist consumers in getting more battery life out of their iPhones if they are nearing the end of their battery life.

Apple unveiled 'MagSafe Battery Pack' that attaches onto the rear of the iPhone 12 to provide more battery life. It will assist consumers in getting more battery life out of their iPhones if they are nearing the end of their battery life. One of the magnetic batteries costs $99 and is available for purchase on Apple's website. Apple has previously sold iPhone battery cases, but the latest pack uses inbuilt magnets to attach to the iPhone 12 phones. It will also function with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, as well as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini. It works directly with the iPhone's operating system to display additional battery life in iOS, just like other Apple accessories. (With inputs from agencies)

This battery will snap tight to your iPhone: Apple launches MagSafe pack

Three&nbsp;of Apple Inc's top&nbsp;contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Foxconn, Wistron&nbsp;and Pegatron all plan to make investments under the scheme, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions are private.

India's new $6.65 billion production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme offers companies cash incentives on any increase in sales of locally-made smartphones over the next five years, compared with 2019-20 levels. The scheme aims to help transform India into an export manufacturing hub.
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Foxconn has applied to invest about 40 billion rupees ($542 million), while Wistron and Pegatron have committed to invest close to 13 billion rupees and 12 billion rupees, respectively, under the PLI plan, the sources said.

It is unclear whether all of the investment will be targeted at boosting manufacturing of Apple devices in India, but the sources and industry insiders said the vast majority would be focused on expanding iPhone manufacturing in the country.

Foxconn said that as a matter of policy it did not comment on specific operations or work for any customer. Apple, Wistron, Pegatron and India's technology ministry, which formulated the PLI scheme, did not respond to emails seeking comment.

While Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron make devices for companies other than Apple globally, Wistron's arm in India currently assembles only iPhones.

Wistron, which assembles roughly 200,000 second-generation iPhone SEs per month in India, plans to scale that up to 400,000 a month by the end of the year, one of the sources said, as it looks to cater to export demand for the device.

That plan is expected to create roughly 10,000 jobs, the source added.

Pegatron is yet to start Indian operations, but has been in talks with several states, with Tamil Nadu in the south emerging as a frontrunner for a planned plant to manufacture Apple devices, a third source said.

Foxconn, which also assembles devices for Xiaomi&nbsp;in India, already has enough capacity to meet Xiaomi's needs and is likely to use the PLI plan largely to boost iPhone production, a fourth source said.

The commitments would help Apple diversify its supply chain beyond China, which is locked in a trade war with the United States.

Apple started assembling in 2017 a low-cost iPhone model in India through Wistron's local unit in the tech hub of Bengaluru. It later ramped up production, with Foxconn beginning to assemble iPhones last year and Wistron widening operations.

"India is key to Apple's global ambitions as it expands beyond China," said Tarun Pathak, an associate director at tech researcher Counterpoint. "It offers a strategic market to them where skilled labour is cheaper as compared to other manufacturing destinations, the size of the internal market is huge and the export potential is enormous."

Local manufacturing helps Apple save costly duties levied on imports of fully-built phones and components in India, where the Cupertino, California-headquartered tech giant accounts for just 1% of smartphone shipments.

Apple is looking to change that. It launched its online store in India last week, and is building its first company-run retail store in the financial hub of Mumbai.

Three of Apple Inc's top contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Three of Apple Inc's top contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron all plan to make investments under the scheme, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions are private. India's new $6.65 billion production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme offers companies cash incentives on any increase in sales of locally-made smartphones over the next five years, compared with 2019-20 levels. The scheme aims to help transform India into an export manufacturing hub. Foxconn has applied to invest about 40 billion rupees ($542 million), while Wistron and Pegatron have committed to invest close to 13 billion rupees and 12 billion rupees, respectively, under the PLI plan, the sources said. It is unclear whether all of the investment will be targeted at boosting manufacturing of Apple devices in India, but the sources and industry insiders said the vast majority would be focused on expanding iPhone manufacturing in the country. Foxconn said that as a matter of policy it did not comment on specific operations or work for any customer. Apple, Wistron, Pegatron and India's technology ministry, which formulated the PLI scheme, did not respond to emails seeking comment. While Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron make devices for companies other than Apple globally, Wistron's arm in India currently assembles only iPhones. Wistron, which assembles roughly 200,000 second-generation iPhone SEs per month in India, plans to scale that up to 400,000 a month by the end of the year, one of the sources said, as it looks to cater to export demand for the device. That plan is expected to create roughly 10,000 jobs, the source added. Pegatron is yet to start Indian operations, but has been in talks with several states, with Tamil Nadu in the south emerging as a frontrunner for a planned plant to manufacture Apple devices, a third source said. Foxconn, which also assembles devices for Xiaomi in India, already has enough capacity to meet Xiaomi's needs and is likely to use the PLI plan largely to boost iPhone production, a fourth source said. The commitments would help Apple diversify its supply chain beyond China, which is locked in a trade war with the United States. Apple started assembling in 2017 a low-cost iPhone model in India through Wistron's local unit in the tech hub of Bengaluru. It later ramped up production, with Foxconn beginning to assemble iPhones last year and Wistron widening operations. "India is key to Apple's global ambitions as it expands beyond China," said Tarun Pathak, an associate director at tech researcher Counterpoint. "It offers a strategic market to them where skilled labour is cheaper as compared to other manufacturing destinations, the size of the internal market is huge and the export potential is enormous." Local manufacturing helps Apple save costly duties levied on imports of fully-built phones and components in India, where the Cupertino, California-headquartered tech giant accounts for just 1% of smartphone shipments. Apple is looking to change that. It launched its online store in India last week, and is building its first company-run retail store in the financial hub of Mumbai.

Three top Apple suppliers to commit $900 million to India smartphone incentive plan: Sources

Fortnite maker Epic Games has used a famous Apple advertisement against the iPhone maker in a social media campaign accompanying a legal battle it launched on Thursday. Epic's 'Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite', shows. 
 
A colorful female Fortnite fighter running through a black-and-white corridor and hurling a unicorn-shaped club against a screen showing an Apple-headed character talking about its control of the system. The Apple character features a worm sticking out of a bite mark that resembles Apple`s corporate logo and frameless spectacles similar to those worn by Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook in his official photograph on the iPhone maker`s website. 
 
Apple Inc earlier in the day removed 'Fortnite'&nbsp;from its App Store for violating the company's in-app payment guidelines, prompting developer Epic to file a lawsuit seeking to end Apple`s in-app payment practices. The Fortnite video, watched nearly half a million times on YouTube within hours of its launch, is a parody of Apple's own '1984' commercial,&nbsp;which launched the Macintosh computer, styled as a threat to the personal computer of the day 
 
Apple's hero made a similar run, to throw a sledge hammer in protest against a totalitarian leader. The commercial, considered a classic, promised viewers "1984 won't be like 1984", the dystopian novel by George Orwell. At the time, Apple was a tiny challenger in the computer market, but on Thursday Epic's video described the game maker as "defying the App Store Monopoly". The video enthused thousands of commenters on YouTube. "The war is on," wrote one.

Fortnite maker Epic Games has used a famous Apple advertisement against the iPhone maker in a social media campaign accompanying a legal battle it launched on Thursday.

Fortnite maker Epic Games has used a famous Apple advertisement against the iPhone maker in a social media campaign accompanying a legal battle it launched on Thursday. Epic's 'Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite', shows. A colorful female Fortnite fighter running through a black-and-white corridor and hurling a unicorn-shaped club against a screen showing an Apple-headed character talking about its control of the system. The Apple character features a worm sticking out of a bite mark that resembles Apple`s corporate logo and frameless spectacles similar to those worn by Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook in his official photograph on the iPhone maker`s website. Apple Inc earlier in the day removed 'Fortnite' from its App Store for violating the company's in-app payment guidelines, prompting developer Epic to file a lawsuit seeking to end Apple`s in-app payment practices. The Fortnite video, watched nearly half a million times on YouTube within hours of its launch, is a parody of Apple's own '1984' commercial, which launched the Macintosh computer, styled as a threat to the personal computer of the day Apple's hero made a similar run, to throw a sledge hammer in protest against a totalitarian leader. The commercial, considered a classic, promised viewers "1984 won't be like 1984", the dystopian novel by George Orwell. At the time, Apple was a tiny challenger in the computer market, but on Thursday Epic's video described the game maker as "defying the App Store Monopoly". The video enthused thousands of commenters on YouTube. "The war is on," wrote one.

Apple's famous '1984' video parodied by Fortnite game maker

US tech giant Apple has reportedly imported clothes -- uniform for staff in stores -- from a company facing US sanctions over forced labour in China’s western Xinjiang region, The Guardian report said quoting shipping records.

US tech giant Apple has reportedly imported clothes -- uniform for staff in stores -- from a company facing US sanctions over forced labour in China’s western Xinjiang region, The Guardian report said quoting shipping records. According to the report, an Apple spokesman said that the company is not sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, but declined to comment on whether they had done so in the past. The US government in July imposed sanctions on Changji Esquel Textile, a unit of the Hong Kong garment group Esquel, along with 10 other Chinese companies for alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang region, including forced labour. Also read: As Apple eyes shift to India from China, smartphone manufacturing to get major boost The sanctions bar the companies from buying US technology and other goods. However, Esquel has denied allegations. “We absolutely have not, do not, and will never use forced labour anywhere in our company,” it said in a statement. According to the report, a month before the sanctions were announced, Esquel had sent a shipment of women’s cotton and elastane knit shirts to “Apple Retail stores” in California, the database run by the global shipping information provider Panjiva showed. Those records were identified by the Tech Transparency Project. Also read: Apple removes thousands of game apps from China store: Research firm Esquel supplies many major US clothing companies including Patagonia, Nike and Tommy Hilfiger. But Apple’s relationship with the firm has not received much public scrutiny, even though it stretches back years.

Apple imported clothes from Chinese company facing US forced labour sanctions: Report

Apple Inc on Monday released the results of a study that found its App Store spurred $458 billion (363.52 billion pounds) in sales last year from categories such as retail of physical goods, ride-hailing and advertising from which the iPhone maker takes no commission.

Apple Inc on Monday released the results of a study that found its App Store spurred $458 billion (363.52 billion pounds) in sales last year from categories such as retail of physical goods, ride-hailing and advertising from which the iPhone maker takes no commission. The study, backed by Apple, marks the first time the company has sought to quantify App Store activity that does not produce a commission for Apple. Commissions from the App Store, which is the only way developers can distribute apps to iPhones owned by consumers, have become a key sales driver for Apple as iPhone sales level off. Also read: As Apple eyes shift to India from China, smartphone manufacturing to get major boost But Apple's study suggested the App Store has a broader impact. The App Store generated $519 billion in billings and sales in 2019, according to the study, conducted by economic research consulting firm Analysis Group. Of that amount, $413 billion was from physical goods and services. The study found $45 billion came from in-app advertising. The remaining 15% of overall App Store activity - about $63 billion - came from digital goods and services such as music and video subscriptions or in-app purchases in games. Apple takes a commission of between 15% and 30% for digital goods and services purchased through the App Store. That practice has drawn antitrust scrutiny in the United States and Europe, with rivals such as Spotify Technology Ltd saying the practice hurts their business. Also read: Apple rolls out cheaper iPhone as pandemic curbs spending To avoid paying Apple's commissions, rivals like Spotify must ask their customers to sign up for subscriptions on their own website, which adds multiple extra steps compared with paying inside the App Store. Spotify has alleged that created an uneven playing field. In a conference call with journalists, Apple representatives said the company commissioned the study to gain a better understanding of the physical goods and services activity in its App Store. General retail apps on iPhones and iPads, including Amazon.com, generated an estimated $268 billion in sales and billings, followed by travel apps at $57 billion and ride-hailing apps at $40 billion.

Apple-backed study sheds light on physical sales through App Store

Apple Inc is delaying the production ramp-up of its flagship iPhones coming later this year by about a month as the coronavirus pandemic has weakened global consumer demand, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The pandemic has disrupted manufacturing across Asia.

However, Apple is forging ahead with plans to release four new iPhone models later this year, the report added citing sources.

The new models will be enabled with 5G connectivity that promises low response times and faster internet.

The Nikkei had reported in late March that Apple was preparing to possibly delay the launch of its first 5G iPhones.

The WSJ report on Monday added that Apple was slashing the number of handsets that it plans to make in the second half of this year by as much as 20%.

The company, which traditionally unveils new iPhones in September, released a smaller iPhone priced at $399 earlier this month.

Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Apple Inc is delaying the production ramp-up of its flagship iPhones coming later this year by about a month as the coronavirus pandemic has weakened global consumer demand, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.

Apple Inc is delaying the production ramp-up of its flagship iPhones coming later this year by about a month as the coronavirus pandemic has weakened global consumer demand, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. The pandemic has disrupted manufacturing across Asia. However, Apple is forging ahead with plans to release four new iPhone models later this year, the report added citing sources. The new models will be enabled with 5G connectivity that promises low response times and faster internet. The Nikkei had reported in late March that Apple was preparing to possibly delay the launch of its first 5G iPhones. The WSJ report on Monday added that Apple was slashing the number of handsets that it plans to make in the second half of this year by as much as 20%. The company, which traditionally unveils new iPhones in September, released a smaller iPhone priced at $399 earlier this month. Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment (With inputs from Reuters)

Apple to delay mass production of 2020 flagship iPhones: Report

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers.

The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by Zuk Avraham, chief executive of San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company ZecOps, while investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client in late 2019. Avraham said he found evidence the vulnerability was exploited in at least six cybersecurity break-ins.

An Apple spokesman acknowledged that a vulnerability exists in Apple’s software for email on iPhones and iPads, known as the Mail app, and that the company had developed a fix, which will be rolled out in a forthcoming update on millions of devices it has sold globally.

Apple declined to comment on Avraham’s research, which was published on Wednesday, that suggests the flaw could be triggered from afar and that it had already been exploited by hackers against high-profile users.

Avraham said he found evidence that a malicious program was taking advantage of the vulnerability in Apple’s iOS mobile operating system as far back as January 2018. He could not determine who the hackers were and Reuters was unable to independently verify his claim.

To execute the hack, Avraham said victims would be sent an apparently blank email message through the Mail app forcing a crash and reset. The crash opened the door for hackers to steal other data on the device, such as photos and contact details.

ZecOps claims the vulnerability allowed hackers to remotely steal data off iPhones even if they were running recent versions of iOS. By itself, the flaw would given access to whatever the Mail app had access to, including confidential messages.

Avraham, a former Israeli Defense Force security researcher, said he suspected that the hacking technique was part of a chain of malicious programs, the rest undiscovered, which could have given an attacker full remote access. Apple declined to comment on that prospect.

Avraham based most of his conclusions on data from “crash reports,” which are generated when programs fail in mid-task on a device. He was then able to recreate a technique that caused controlled crashes.

Two independent security researchers who reviewed ZecOps’ discovery found the evidence credible but said they had not yet fully recreated its findings due to time constraints.

Patrick Wardle, an Apple security expert and former researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency, said the discovery “confirms what has always been somewhat of a rather badly kept secret: that well-resourced adversaries can remotely and silently infect fully patched iOS devices.”

Because Apple was not aware of the software bug until recently, it could have been very valuable to governments and contractors offering hacking services. Exploit programs that work without warning against an up-to-date phone can be worth more than $1 million.

While Apple is largely viewed within the cybersecurity industry as having a high standard for digital security, any successful hacking technique against the iPhone could affect millions due to the device’s global popularity. In 2019, Apple said there were about 900 million iPhones in active use.

Bill Marczak, a security researcher with Citizen Lab, a Canada-based academic security research group, called the vulnerability discovery “scary.”

“A lot of times, you can take comfort from the fact that hacking is preventable,” said Marczak. “With this bug, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a PhD in cybersecurity, this will eat your lunch.”

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers. The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by Zuk Avraham, chief executive of San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company ZecOps, while investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client in late 2019.

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers. The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by Zuk Avraham, chief executive of San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company ZecOps, while investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client in late 2019. Avraham said he found evidence the vulnerability was exploited in at least six cybersecurity break-ins. An Apple spokesman acknowledged that a vulnerability exists in Apple’s software for email on iPhones and iPads, known as the Mail app, and that the company had developed a fix, which will be rolled out in a forthcoming update on millions of devices it has sold globally. Apple declined to comment on Avraham’s research, which was published on Wednesday, that suggests the flaw could be triggered from afar and that it had already been exploited by hackers against high-profile users. Avraham said he found evidence that a malicious program was taking advantage of the vulnerability in Apple’s iOS mobile operating system as far back as January 2018. He could not determine who the hackers were and Reuters was unable to independently verify his claim. To execute the hack, Avraham said victims would be sent an apparently blank email message through the Mail app forcing a crash and reset. The crash opened the door for hackers to steal other data on the device, such as photos and contact details. ZecOps claims the vulnerability allowed hackers to remotely steal data off iPhones even if they were running recent versions of iOS. By itself, the flaw would given access to whatever the Mail app had access to, including confidential messages. Avraham, a former Israeli Defense Force security researcher, said he suspected that the hacking technique was part of a chain of malicious programs, the rest undiscovered, which could have given an attacker full remote access. Apple declined to comment on that prospect. Avraham based most of his conclusions on data from “crash reports,” which are generated when programs fail in mid-task on a device. He was then able to recreate a technique that caused controlled crashes. Two independent security researchers who reviewed ZecOps’ discovery found the evidence credible but said they had not yet fully recreated its findings due to time constraints. Patrick Wardle, an Apple security expert and former researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency, said the discovery “confirms what has always been somewhat of a rather badly kept secret: that well-resourced adversaries can remotely and silently infect fully patched iOS devices.” Because Apple was not aware of the software bug until recently, it could have been very valuable to governments and contractors offering hacking services. Exploit programs that work without warning against an up-to-date phone can be worth more than $1 million. While Apple is largely viewed within the cybersecurity industry as having a high standard for digital security, any successful hacking technique against the iPhone could affect millions due to the device’s global popularity. In 2019, Apple said there were about 900 million iPhones in active use. Bill Marczak, a security researcher with Citizen Lab, a Canada-based academic security research group, called the vulnerability discovery “scary.” “A lot of times, you can take comfort from the fact that hacking is preventable,” said Marczak. “With this bug, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a PhD in cybersecurity, this will eat your lunch.”

Flaw in iPhone, iPads may have allowed hackers to steal data for years

Apple is closing all of its stores outside China until March 27 in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, CEO Tim Cook said. Cook said the firm had learned from steps taken in China, where the tech giant has just reopened its retail stores.

Apple is closing all of its stores outside China until March 27 in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, CEO Tim Cook said. Cook said the firm had learned from steps taken in China, where the tech giant has just reopened its retail stores. "One of those lessons is that the most effective way to minimize risk of the virus's transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance," he said in a statement late Friday. "As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we're taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers." Apple's online store would remain open but office staff outside China would be working remotely if possible, Cook added. The California-based firm has about 500 stores in 24 countries around the world. Despite the closures, Cook said hourly workers would continue to be paid as normal. The CEO said Apple had expanded its leave policy "to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19" including caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantine or childcare due to school closures. Apple has also donated $15 million to help the fight against the pandemic and will be matching employee donations two-to-one. "The global spread of COVID-19 is affecting every one of us," Cook said. He ended his statement thanking "the heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, public health experts and public servants" around the world fighting the pandemic. All of Apple's 42 stores in China have reopened after being closed since February 1 as the epidemic rapidly spread there. The shops have been gradually returning to business in the past few days and the last ones reopened on Friday as China slowly resumes work. Mass quarantines had forced factories to suspend operations and shops to shut. Apple, which depends on components from Chinese suppliers and has a big market in China, was hammered on both fronts. Last month, Apple said it would miss its second quarter revenue forecast and global iPhone supplies would fall because of the epidemic. The firm had forecast revenue of $63-$67 billion for January-March, but did not disclose how much it expected revenue to fall.

Apple closing all stores outside China until March 27 due to coronavirus

Apple said on Monday that it will not be able to meet revenue estimates for the March quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, making it the first major US company to admit the impact of the virus.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lates-india-news-wistron-to-start-assembly-of-key-iphone-component-in-india-soon-278274">Wistron to start assembly of key iPhone component in India soon</a>

The iPhone maker says its supply of smartphones would be hampered as production was slower than expected.

The company had forecast $63 billion to $67 billion in revenue for the quarter ending in March. Apple makes most of its iPhones and other products in China.

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The outbreak temporarily halted production and also closed all retail stores in the country.

While all iPhone factories located outside of the Hubei province, which is the centre of the outbreak, have reopened, Apple has said that they are "ramping up slower than expected".

Some Apple retail stores also reopened in China with reduced hours last week. This comes at a time when sales of iPhones were up for the first time in a year.

It spells bad news for China which is the world's biggest market for smartphones. Analysts estimate that this coronavirus could slash the demand for smartphones by almost half in the first quarter of this year.

Apple said on Monday that it will not be able to meet revenue estimates for the March quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, making it the first major US company to admit the impact of the virus.

Apple said on Monday that it will not be able to meet revenue estimates for the March quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, making it the first major US company to admit the impact of the virus. Also read: Wistron to start assembly of key iPhone component in India soon The iPhone maker says its supply of smartphones would be hampered as production was slower than expected. The company had forecast $63 billion to $67 billion in revenue for the quarter ending in March. Apple makes most of its iPhones and other products in China. × The outbreak temporarily halted production and also closed all retail stores in the country. While all iPhone factories located outside of the Hubei province, which is the centre of the outbreak, have reopened, Apple has said that they are "ramping up slower than expected". Some Apple retail stores also reopened in China with reduced hours last week. This comes at a time when sales of iPhones were up for the first time in a year. It spells bad news for China which is the world's biggest market for smartphones. Analysts estimate that this coronavirus could slash the demand for smartphones by almost half in the first quarter of this year.

Apple says it won't be able to meet revenue estimates for March quarter due to coronavirus 

Sales of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-taking-a-deeper-look-at-map-policies-after-calling-crimea-part-of-russia-265344">Apple</a> Inc's iPhone in China in December jumped more than 18 per cent&nbsp;year on year, government data showed on Thursday.

China is gearing up for the Lunar New Year in late January, a major gift-giving holiday.

Apple shipped roughly 3.2 million phones in China in December, data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and Reuters calculations showed.

That was up from 2.7 million a year earlier.

After a peak period in 2015, iPhone sales in China stagnated due to factors including longer upgrade cycles and competition from Chinese rivals.

Sales of phones from China's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/some-huawei-suppliers-get-us-approval-to-restart-sales-to-blacklisted-firm-263525">Huawei Technologies</a> Co Ltd have boomed while overseas the company has faced political pressure from Washington over its technology.

In the third quarter of 2019, Huawei accounted for 42 per cent of new phone shipments in China, according to research firm IDC.

Throughout 2019, Apple offered discounts and financing schemes aimed at boosting sales in China.

In the company's last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook suggested that such initiatives were successful in attracting more Chinese consumers.

Apple is scheduled to release its next quarterly financial report in late January.

Sales of Apple Inc's iPhone in China in December jumped more than 18 per cent year on year, government data showed on Thursday. China is gearing up for the Lunar New Year in late January, a major gift-giving holiday.

Sales of Apple Inc's iPhone in China in December jumped more than 18 per cent year on year, government data showed on Thursday. China is gearing up for the Lunar New Year in late January, a major gift-giving holiday. Apple shipped roughly 3.2 million phones in China in December, data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and Reuters calculations showed. That was up from 2.7 million a year earlier. After a peak period in 2015, iPhone sales in China stagnated due to factors including longer upgrade cycles and competition from Chinese rivals. Sales of phones from China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd have boomed while overseas the company has faced political pressure from Washington over its technology. In the third quarter of 2019, Huawei accounted for 42 per cent of new phone shipments in China, according to research firm IDC. Throughout 2019, Apple offered discounts and financing schemes aimed at boosting sales in China. In the company's last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook suggested that such initiatives were successful in attracting more Chinese consumers. Apple is scheduled to release its next quarterly financial report in late January.

Apple's iPhone sales in China up 18 per cent in December: Report

A New York cardiologist has sued Apple over its&nbsp;heartbeat monitoring technology which he claims was invented by him.

Dr. Joseph Wiesel who works in the department of medicine in New York University in a lawsuit said that Apple had infringed on patents and claimed that the company "willfully disregarded" the rights since he was the owner of the patents.

Wiesel has now filed a case in a federal court in Brooklyn, suing Apple for infringing on his patents. The New York University cardiologist claims in his lawsuit that Apple went ahead despite "knowledge and understanding" of his patents which he had been working on since 1999.

The study was based on atrial fibrillation detection techniques for which Wiesel alleges Apple did not give him any credit although he claimed that he had shared the patent details with the tech giant way back in 2017 but alleged that the company "refused to negotiate".

The controversy involves Apple watch which has a feature which measures heart rate and sends notifications to the users on irregular pulse. Wiesel said his research was a pioneering step towards atrial fibrillation detection done by him.

Apple is yet to comment on the development.

A New York cardiologist has sued Apple over its heartbeat monitoring technology which he claims was invented by him. Dr. Joseph Wiesel who works in the department of medicine in New York University in a lawsuit said that Apple had infringed on patents and claimed that the company "willfully disregarded" the rights since he was the owner of the patents.

A New York cardiologist has sued Apple over its heartbeat monitoring technology which he claims was invented by him. Dr. Joseph Wiesel who works in the department of medicine in New York University in a lawsuit said that Apple had infringed on patents and claimed that the company "willfully disregarded" the rights since he was the owner of the patents. Wiesel has now filed a case in a federal court in Brooklyn, suing Apple for infringing on his patents. The New York University cardiologist claims in his lawsuit that Apple went ahead despite "knowledge and understanding" of his patents which he had been working on since 1999. The study was based on atrial fibrillation detection techniques for which Wiesel alleges Apple did not give him any credit although he claimed that he had shared the patent details with the tech giant way back in 2017 but alleged that the company "refused to negotiate". The controversy involves Apple watch which has a feature which measures heart rate and sends notifications to the users on irregular pulse. Wiesel said his research was a pioneering step towards atrial fibrillation detection done by him. Apple is yet to comment on the development.

New York cardiologist sues Apple over heartbeat monitoring technology

Apple Inc has started selling its popular iPhone XR phones assembled in India, as it looks to expand its share in the world's second-largest smartphone market where it has struggled against cheaper products from rivals.

The phones are being assembled at Chinese contract manufacturer Foxconn's India factory, helping the Cupertino, California-based company avoid high levies on the import of fully-built devices as well as meet local sourcing norms for opening its own retail stores in India.

iPhone XR boxes with an "Assembled in India" tag were seen on Monday in many of the country's electronic product retailers, including Croma, with a price tag of 49,900 Indian rupees (£542) for the 64 GB version.

The company has slashed iPhone XR prices in India to counter a prolonged sales slowdown amid fierce competition from premium smartphones from Samsung and OnePlus.

Earlier this year Reuters had reported that the company would assemble its top-end iPhones in India.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has tried to position South Asia's third-biggest economy as a hub for smartphone manufacturing.

Companies such as Apple are also looking to use India as an export hub to soften the impact of an ongoing trade war between the United States and China.

Apple Inc has started selling its popular iPhone XR phones assembled in India, as it looks to expand its share in the world's second-largest smartphone market where it has struggled against cheaper products from rivals.

Apple Inc has started selling its popular iPhone XR phones assembled in India, as it looks to expand its share in the world's second-largest smartphone market where it has struggled against cheaper products from rivals. The phones are being assembled at Chinese contract manufacturer Foxconn's India factory, helping the Cupertino, California-based company avoid high levies on the import of fully-built devices as well as meet local sourcing norms for opening its own retail stores in India. iPhone XR boxes with an "Assembled in India" tag were seen on Monday in many of the country's electronic product retailers, including Croma, with a price tag of 49,900 Indian rupees (£542) for the 64 GB version. The company has slashed iPhone XR prices in India to counter a prolonged sales slowdown amid fierce competition from premium smartphones from Samsung and OnePlus. Earlier this year Reuters had reported that the company would assemble its top-end iPhones in India. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has tried to position South Asia's third-biggest economy as a hub for smartphone manufacturing. Companies such as Apple are also looking to use India as an export hub to soften the impact of an ongoing trade war between the United States and China.

Apple starts selling locally assembled iPhone XR in India

Along with its new iPhones, Apple is stepping up on content and services for its devices for its big media event Tuesday.

Apple was expected to introduce three upgraded iPhones and a successor to its more affordable iPhone XR as it looks to hold its share of the premium smartphone market where prices are hovering around $1,000.

But services, subscriptions and online content will likely share the stage with the company's glitzy hardware as Apple seeks to shift its focus away from a smartphone market which is showing little growth.

"I think it is going to be the first year the event is going to also be about services," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said.

"We might get to see what Apple looks like as a company when they are talking about services and hardware as one product."

Richard Windsor of research firm Radio Free Mobile said Apple is coasting on the iPhone because of its strong quality but is not likely to see strong growth from either hardware or services.

"There is not much upside because services revenue will take years to reach a scale where it can really move the needle company-wide," Windsor said.

"Unfortunately, the market wants fireworks from Apple on cue every year meaning that no growth will dampen share price performance."

TV+ turned on?

Apple recently released a smartphone-generation credit card in the US and is keen to launch its TV+ streaming service before Disney goes live with a rival service in November.

They unveiled streaming video plans along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales.

The company also plans to launch a new game subscription service called Apple Arcade by the end of this year.

Apple managed to grow its overall revenues, albeit by a modest one percent, to $53.8 billion, even as iPhone revenues plunged nearly 12 percent in the April-June period.

The company delivered strong growth from digital content and services that include its Apple Pay and Apple Music, along with wearables and accessories like the Apple Watch and Air Pods.

Some of those accessories could also get upgrades on Tuesday.

China wild card

Analysts warn that Apple still faces challenges as rivals chip away at the smartphone market, in which the iPhone's share is less than 12 percent.

As the iPhone maker refines its handsets, other makers are pushing into new areas such as 5G devices and folding smartphones.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors that he expected a "trifecta of iPhone 11s" that will help the company "put a fence around" its user base.

About a third of the 900 million iPhone users around the world are in an upgrade "window," meaning a strong potential for handset sales, according to Ives.

"While China remains a wild card, we are bullish into Apple's future" in the coming year, Ives said.

International Data Corporation (IDC) forecast that this will remain a challenging year for iPhone sales, mostly due to a mature market and lack of handsets tailored for budding 5G telecom networks.

IDC expected Apple to hit the market with 5G iPhones next year, and have an edge due to a better understanding of the market.

China accounts for about 17 percent of Apple sales overall, and has tremendous room for growth, according to Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart.

The trade war between the US and China has complicated Apple's effort to gain ground in that market, where gains by local titan Huawei have come partly at the California-based company's expense.

"Apple needs Chinese consumers to treat the iPhone as a preferred premium brand at a tricky geopolitical moment," Greengart said.

Along with its new iPhones, Apple is stepping up on content and services for its devices for its big media event Tuesday. Apple was expected to introduce three upgraded iPhones and a successor to its more affordable iPhone XR as it looks to hold its share of the premium smartphone market where prices are hovering around $1,000.

Along with its new iPhones, Apple is stepping up on content and services for its devices for its big media event Tuesday. Apple was expected to introduce three upgraded iPhones and a successor to its more affordable iPhone XR as it looks to hold its share of the premium smartphone market where prices are hovering around $1,000. But services, subscriptions and online content will likely share the stage with the company's glitzy hardware as Apple seeks to shift its focus away from a smartphone market which is showing little growth. "I think it is going to be the first year the event is going to also be about services," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said. "We might get to see what Apple looks like as a company when they are talking about services and hardware as one product." Richard Windsor of research firm Radio Free Mobile said Apple is coasting on the iPhone because of its strong quality but is not likely to see strong growth from either hardware or services. "There is not much upside because services revenue will take years to reach a scale where it can really move the needle company-wide," Windsor said. "Unfortunately, the market wants fireworks from Apple on cue every year meaning that no growth will dampen share price performance." TV+ turned on? Apple recently released a smartphone-generation credit card in the US and is keen to launch its TV+ streaming service before Disney goes live with a rival service in November. They unveiled streaming video plans along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales. The company also plans to launch a new game subscription service called Apple Arcade by the end of this year. Apple managed to grow its overall revenues, albeit by a modest one percent, to $53.8 billion, even as iPhone revenues plunged nearly 12 percent in the April-June period. The company delivered strong growth from digital content and services that include its Apple Pay and Apple Music, along with wearables and accessories like the Apple Watch and Air Pods. Some of those accessories could also get upgrades on Tuesday. China wild card Analysts warn that Apple still faces challenges as rivals chip away at the smartphone market, in which the iPhone's share is less than 12 percent. As the iPhone maker refines its handsets, other makers are pushing into new areas such as 5G devices and folding smartphones. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors that he expected a "trifecta of iPhone 11s" that will help the company "put a fence around" its user base. About a third of the 900 million iPhone users around the world are in an upgrade "window," meaning a strong potential for handset sales, according to Ives. "While China remains a wild card, we are bullish into Apple's future" in the coming year, Ives said. International Data Corporation (IDC) forecast that this will remain a challenging year for iPhone sales, mostly due to a mature market and lack of handsets tailored for budding 5G telecom networks. IDC expected Apple to hit the market with 5G iPhones next year, and have an edge due to a better understanding of the market. China accounts for about 17 percent of Apple sales overall, and has tremendous room for growth, according to Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart. The trade war between the US and China has complicated Apple's effort to gain ground in that market, where gains by local titan Huawei have come partly at the California-based company's expense. "Apple needs Chinese consumers to treat the iPhone as a preferred premium brand at a tricky geopolitical moment," Greengart said.

New iPhones to share limelight as Apple revs up services

Apple Inc on Friday said it is cancelling the AirPower wireless charging mat that the company announced in 2017 on the same day as its iPhone X, a rare public retreat for the gadget maker known for splashy product launches.

The mat was intended to wirelessly charge up to three Apple products at once, such as an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods wireless headphones.

While wireless charging has spread through the gadget industry, charging three devices at once with higher wattage "fast charging" has proved challenging. Furniture seller Ikea, for example, sells a $60 matt that can handle three phones but it only features slower 5-watt charging.

In a statement, Apple said that it had concluded that its AirPower mat "will not achieve our high standards."

"We apologise to those customers who were looking forward to this launch," Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, said in the statement. "We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward."

The announcement was a rare move for Apple, known in the electronics industry for keeping tight wraps on product plans until it publicly launches them at splashy events in Silicon Valley. The early announcement of AirPower, along with a wirelessly charged version of its AirPods headphones, was a break in that tradition. Apple released the updated AirPods last week, heightening speculation that the accompanying charging mat would come soon.

Daring Fireball, a website that covers Apple news, previously reported that Apple engineers had issues with devices overheating on the AirPower pad. Apple declined to comment beyond its statement on the project.

Apple offered wireless charging in the iPhone in 2017, after many of its rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd had offered the feature for several years. While rumours circulated that Apple might create its own unique wireless charging technology, the company instead chose to use a system that works with Qi, an open industry standard already in use by Samsung and others.

Apple shares did not move on the news, and shares of NXP Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics, two major suppliers of chips used in Qi systems, appeared to be unaffected also.

Apple Inc on Friday said it is cancelling the AirPower wireless charging mat that the company announced in 2017 on the same day as its iPhone X, a rare public retreat for the gadget maker known for splashy product launches.

Apple Inc on Friday said it is cancelling the AirPower wireless charging mat that the company announced in 2017 on the same day as its iPhone X, a rare public retreat for the gadget maker known for splashy product launches. The mat was intended to wirelessly charge up to three Apple products at once, such as an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods wireless headphones. While wireless charging has spread through the gadget industry, charging three devices at once with higher wattage "fast charging" has proved challenging. Furniture seller Ikea, for example, sells a $60 matt that can handle three phones but it only features slower 5-watt charging. In a statement, Apple said that it had concluded that its AirPower mat "will not achieve our high standards." "We apologise to those customers who were looking forward to this launch," Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, said in the statement. "We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward." The announcement was a rare move for Apple, known in the electronics industry for keeping tight wraps on product plans until it publicly launches them at splashy events in Silicon Valley. The early announcement of AirPower, along with a wirelessly charged version of its AirPods headphones, was a break in that tradition. Apple released the updated AirPods last week, heightening speculation that the accompanying charging mat would come soon. Daring Fireball, a website that covers Apple news, previously reported that Apple engineers had issues with devices overheating on the AirPower pad. Apple declined to comment beyond its statement on the project. Apple offered wireless charging in the iPhone in 2017, after many of its rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd had offered the feature for several years. While rumours circulated that Apple might create its own unique wireless charging technology, the company instead chose to use a system that works with Qi, an open industry standard already in use by Samsung and others. Apple shares did not move on the news, and shares of NXP Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics, two major suppliers of chips used in Qi systems, appeared to be unaffected also.

Apple, in rare reversal, pulls plug on wireless charging mat

WION Speed News: Watch top international news of the day, January 4th, 2019

Wall Street edged higher on Wednesday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wall-street-starts-new-year-with-1-percent-slide-on-global-slowdown-jitters-187942">stumbling out of the starting gate on the first trading day of 2019</a>, while fears of a global economic slowdown were exacerbated after Apple cut its holiday-quarter revenue forecast.

Apple&nbsp;dropped 8 per cent in extended trading late in the day after the iPhone maker slashed its outlook for the December quarter, blaming weak demand in China.

Shares of Apple's suppliers also fell, and S&amp;P 500 futures&nbsp;dropped 1.3 per cent, signalling that Wednesday's modest advance could unwind when the market reopens on Thursday.

"To see Apple's sales drop off this much says something about the Chinese economy," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York. "Any company that does business in China will feel the impact of this."

Stocks had started the session lower after separate reports showed a deceleration in factory activity in China and the euro zone, indicating the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China was taking a toll on global manufacturing.

Energy stocks led the S&amp;P 500's advance and the sector was the index's biggest percentage gainer, buoyed by a 2.4 per cent jump in crude prices. The group was the worst performing S&amp;P sector in 2018.

Gains were offset by healthcare&nbsp;and so-called defensive sectors, such as real estate, utilities&nbsp;and consumer staples. Healthcare companies provided the biggest drag on the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;rose 18.78 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 23,346.24, the S&amp;P 500&nbsp;gained 3.18 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 2,510.03 and the Nasdaq Composite&nbsp;added 30.66 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 6,665.94.

Of the 11 major sectors in the S&amp;P 500, seven closed in positive territory.

Banks got a boost from Barclays, as the broker wrote in a research note that the sector could outperform the S&amp;P this year. The Dow Jones Industrial average was led higher with gains from Goldman Sachs&nbsp;and JPMorgan.

Tesla Inc&nbsp;delivered fewer-than-expected Model 3 sedans in the fourth quarter and cut US&nbsp;prices. The electric automaker's shares slid 6.8 per cent.

General Electric Co&nbsp;jumped 6.3 per cent in heavy trading as bargain hunters bought the stock in the wake of its over 50-per cent plunge in 2018.

In the coming weeks, the fourth-quarter reporting period will get underway. Analysts see S&amp;P 500 companies posting profit gains of 15.8 per cent, significantly smaller than the third quarter's 28.4 per cent advance.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 2.10-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.42-to-1 ratio favoured advancers.

The S&amp;P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 4 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 9 new highs and 58 new lows.

Volume on US&nbsp;exchanges was 7.80 billion shares, compared to the 9.18 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Apple dropped 8 per cent in extended trading late in the day after the iPhone maker slashed its outlook for the December quarter, blaming weak demand in China.

Wall Street edged higher on Wednesday after stumbling out of the starting gate on the first trading day of 2019, while fears of a global economic slowdown were exacerbated after Apple cut its holiday-quarter revenue forecast. Apple dropped 8 per cent in extended trading late in the day after the iPhone maker slashed its outlook for the December quarter, blaming weak demand in China. Shares of Apple's suppliers also fell, and S&P 500 futures dropped 1.3 per cent, signalling that Wednesday's modest advance could unwind when the market reopens on Thursday. "To see Apple's sales drop off this much says something about the Chinese economy," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York. "Any company that does business in China will feel the impact of this." Stocks had started the session lower after separate reports showed a deceleration in factory activity in China and the euro zone, indicating the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China was taking a toll on global manufacturing. Energy stocks led the S&P 500's advance and the sector was the index's biggest percentage gainer, buoyed by a 2.4 per cent jump in crude prices. The group was the worst performing S&P sector in 2018. Gains were offset by healthcare and so-called defensive sectors, such as real estate, utilities and consumer staples. Healthcare companies provided the biggest drag on the S&P 500 and the Dow. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 18.78 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 23,346.24, the S&P 500 gained 3.18 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 2,510.03 and the Nasdaq Composite added 30.66 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 6,665.94. Of the 11 major sectors in the S&P 500, seven closed in positive territory. Banks got a boost from Barclays, as the broker wrote in a research note that the sector could outperform the S&P this year. The Dow Jones Industrial average was led higher with gains from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan. Tesla Inc delivered fewer-than-expected Model 3 sedans in the fourth quarter and cut US prices. The electric automaker's shares slid 6.8 per cent. General Electric Co jumped 6.3 per cent in heavy trading as bargain hunters bought the stock in the wake of its over 50-per cent plunge in 2018. In the coming weeks, the fourth-quarter reporting period will get underway. Analysts see S&P 500 companies posting profit gains of 15.8 per cent, significantly smaller than the third quarter's 28.4 per cent advance. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 2.10-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.42-to-1 ratio favoured advancers. The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 4 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 9 new highs and 58 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 7.80 billion shares, compared to the 9.18 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Wall Street ekes out gains, Apple cuts revenue forecast after the bell

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