Apple is said to have asked its suppliers in Taiwan to avoid using "Made in Taiwan" labels. The tech giant apparently wants products to be labeled as made in "Chinese Taipei" or "Taiwan, China".

Gravitas: Apple toes China's line on Taiwan

It's that time of the year again.

We sit with family members in living rooms and talk of the new iPhones and their exorbitant prices.&nbsp;We give unsolicited advice to colleagues in meeting rooms about whether to buy the new Apple Watch or not.

We raise eyebrows at the Indian prices of iPhones but look at EMI options nonetheless.&nbsp;From Bollywood celebrities, commentators, Hollywood personalities to political pundits, everyone had something to say about Apple's California streaming event.&nbsp;

Everyone is an expert or a critic when it comes to the new iPhone.

So what does that tell us?

Despite running into privacy controversies and supply chain issues, Apple continues to spark interest and conversation about its new iPhones, iPads and of course, the Apple Watch.&nbsp;

More than two million people watched Apple's California streaming event on YouTube on September 14th and waited for those famous words which are part of the late CEO Steve Jobs' legacy.

"One more thing..."

But this time around, there was no "one more thing"!&nbsp;

Instead, Apple stuck to the basics and released the new iPhone 13 series, a new iPad, an iPad mini and its fitness smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 7.

And yet, here we are talking about them because the aspirational value of owning an Apple product, especially in India, is still strong.

One of the biggest takeaways for India, you ask?&nbsp;

News flash, you won't have to wait for the new goodies for long. In a first, the phones will be available for pre-order in India on September 17th with sales starting on September 24. This shows what a significant market India is for Apple as the iPhone-maker aims to take advantage of its growth momentum in the country.&nbsp;The new iPhones will arrive in India at the same time as Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, the UK, the US&nbsp;and other big markets.

In another noteworthy aspect, the pricing of the iPhones in India remains the same as last year. Apple offers you improved camera features, longer-lasting battery and of course, a faster processor, the mighty A15 Bionic chipset. For most, the USP remains the jaw-dropping storage option of 1TB for the Pro models.

"India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world and continues to be an important market for Apple. Apple has only a 2 per cent&nbsp;market share in the world’s second-largest market as compared to the 14 per cent&nbsp;it has in the world’s largest market-China," says Tarun Pathak, Research Director, Counterpoint Research.&nbsp;

Pathak adds that Apple would like to keep a closer eye on India through recent actions like "increased local assembly, channel expansion, early launches, aggressive marketing.”

Commenting on Apple's decision to maintain its India pricing from last year, Pathak calls it "a good move", attributing the decision to strong competition for iPhones in the ultra-premium segment. Pathak also expects iPhone sales to go up in the upcoming festive season in India.

So here's a round-up Apple's new launches with India prices if you're looking to upgrade to the new gadgets.

<img alt="iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max (Photo Courtesy: Apple)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea9f1db4-d4f2-4fcf-bfec-82b887c77232" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/IPhone1.JPG" />

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max (Photo Courtesy: Apple)

Meet the iPhone 13s with massive storage

iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1,099 
India Price: Rs 1,29,900

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>A15 Bionic Chip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Storage capacity of 1 TB</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triple rear camera</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Longer battery life than predecessor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cinematic mode for portrait setting in video</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iOS 15</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

iPhone 13 Pro&nbsp;starts at $999 
India Price: Rs 1,19,900

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>A15 Bionic Chip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Storage capacity of 1TB</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triple rear camera</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Longer battery life than predecessor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cinematic mode for portrait setting in video</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;iOS 15</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

<img alt="iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini (Photo Courtesy: Apple)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b27dcbbc-eb17-442a-bd1b-242d027f70a4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mini1.JPG" />

&nbsp;

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini (Photo Courtesy: Apple)

iPhone 13: Starts at $799

India Price: Rs 79,900

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual camera, Cinematic mode in video</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A15 Bionic chip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Longer battery life than predecessor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iOS 15</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

iPhone 13 Mini&nbsp;starts at $699

India Price: Rs 69,900

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual camera, Cinematic mode in video</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A15 Bionic chip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Longer battery life than predecessor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iOS 15</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="iPad mini (Photo Courtesy: Apple)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eacaf6e5-1a21-4575-a55b-c16030b37929" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Om1.JPG" />

iPad mini (Photo Courtesy: Apple)

&nbsp;

A sweet surprise: Meet the new iPads

iPad: Starts at $329

India Price: Starts at Rs&nbsp;30,900 for&nbsp;Wi-Fi only

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>10.2-inch Retina display</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A13 chip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12MP ultrawide camera with Center Stage feature</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

iPad Mini

India price: Starts at Rs 46,900 for Wi-fi only

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>8.3-inch Liquid Retina display</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A15 Bionic chip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Support for Apple pencil</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>USB-C support</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12MP ultrawide camera with Center Stage feature</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

<img alt="Apple Watch" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8124ed4d-c54f-4f72-bb29-01d80aaa3a22" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/AppleWa1.jpg" />

Meet&nbsp;the new Apple watch

Apple Watch Series 7: starts at&nbsp;$399

India Price: Not announced

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 250px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Always-on Retina Display</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>WatchOS 8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IP6X dust-resistant,&nbsp;swim-proof</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20% more screen area than predecessor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Faster charging</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

It's that time of the year again. We sit with family members in living rooms and talk of the new iPhones and their exorbitant prices. We give unsolicited advice to colleagues in meeting rooms about whether to buy the new Apple Watch or not.

It's that time of the year again. We sit with family members in living rooms and talk of the new iPhones and their exorbitant prices. We give unsolicited advice to colleagues in meeting rooms about whether to buy the new Apple Watch or not. We raise eyebrows at the Indian prices of iPhones but look at EMI options nonetheless. From Bollywood celebrities, commentators, Hollywood personalities to political pundits, everyone had something to say about Apple's California streaming event. Everyone is an expert or a critic when it comes to the new iPhone. So what does that tell us? Despite running into privacy controversies and supply chain issues, Apple continues to spark interest and conversation about its new iPhones, iPads and of course, the Apple Watch. More than two million people watched Apple's California streaming event on YouTube on September 14th and waited for those famous words which are part of the late CEO Steve Jobs' legacy. "One more thing..." But this time around, there was no "one more thing"! Instead, Apple stuck to the basics and released the new iPhone 13 series, a new iPad, an iPad mini and its fitness smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 7. And yet, here we are talking about them because the aspirational value of owning an Apple product, especially in India, is still strong. One of the biggest takeaways for India, you ask? News flash, you won't have to wait for the new goodies for long. In a first, the phones will be available for pre-order in India on September 17th with sales starting on September 24. This shows what a significant market India is for Apple as the iPhone-maker aims to take advantage of its growth momentum in the country. The new iPhones will arrive in India at the same time as Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, the UK, the US and other big markets. In another noteworthy aspect, the pricing of the iPhones in India remains the same as last year. Apple offers you improved camera features, longer-lasting battery and of course, a faster processor, the mighty A15 Bionic chipset. For most, the USP remains the jaw-dropping storage option of 1TB for the Pro models. "India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world and continues to be an important market for Apple. Apple has only a 2 per cent market share in the world’s second-largest market as compared to the 14 per cent it has in the world’s largest market-China," says Tarun Pathak, Research Director, Counterpoint Research. Pathak adds that Apple would like to keep a closer eye on India through recent actions like "increased local assembly, channel expansion, early launches, aggressive marketing.” Commenting on Apple's decision to maintain its India pricing from last year, Pathak calls it "a good move", attributing the decision to strong competition for iPhones in the ultra-premium segment. Pathak also expects iPhone sales to go up in the upcoming festive season in India. So here's a round-up Apple's new launches with India prices if you're looking to upgrade to the new gadgets. iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max (Photo Courtesy: Apple) Meet the iPhone 13s with massive storage iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1,099 India Price: Rs 1,29,900 A15 Bionic Chip Storage capacity of 1 TB 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion Triple rear camera Longer battery life than predecessor Cinematic mode for portrait setting in video iOS 15 iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 India Price: Rs 1,19,900 A15 Bionic Chip Storage capacity of 1TB 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion Triple rear camera Longer battery life than predecessor Cinematic mode for portrait setting in video iOS 15 iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini (Photo Courtesy: Apple) iPhone 13: Starts at $799 India Price: Rs 79,900 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display Dual camera, Cinematic mode in video A15 Bionic chip Longer battery life than predecessor iOS 15 iPhone 13 Mini starts at $699 India Price: Rs 69,900 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display Dual camera, Cinematic mode in video A15 Bionic chip Longer battery life than predecessor iOS 15 iPad mini (Photo Courtesy: Apple) A sweet surprise: Meet the new iPads iPad: Starts at $329 India Price: Starts at Rs 30,900 for Wi-Fi only 10.2-inch Retina display A13 chip 12MP ultrawide camera with Center Stage feature iPad Mini India price: Starts at Rs 46,900 for Wi-fi only 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display A15 Bionic chip Support for Apple pencil USB-C support 12MP ultrawide camera with Center Stage feature Meet the new Apple watch Apple Watch Series 7: starts at $399 India Price: Not announced Always-on Retina Display WatchOS 8 IP6X dust-resistant, swim-proof 20% more screen area than predecessor Faster charging

Will India bite into Apple's new offerings?

Apple&nbsp;Inc's cheapest handset will support 5G technology in its next iteration and its iPhone Mini will not be included in its 2022 lineup, Nikkei reported&nbsp;on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The company will start selling a 5G version of budget iPhone SE in the first half of 2022, Nikkei reported, adding the device will be powered by its A15 processor and its 5G connectivity will be enabled by Qualcomm Inc's X60 modem chip.

Telecom operators have been spending billions of dollars to upgrade their networks to the much-touted 5G to enable faster internet and better coverage.

However, analysts are skeptical of the uses of the technology to individual consumers and believe there are years to come before one can reap the actual benefits.

Meanwhile, demand for iPhone Mini, the smaller version of&nbsp;Apple's flagship device has been muted, compared with its bigger and high-end models like iPhone 12 Pros and the older iPhone 11s as users prefer larger devices to run almost every day-to-day tasks.

US&nbsp;sales of iPhone 12 Mini were just 5 per cent&nbsp;of overall sales of its new phones during the first half of January, according to industry data provider Counterpoint.

Apple&nbsp;did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

Apple Inc's cheapest handset will support 5G technology in its next iteration and its iPhone Mini will not be included in its 2022 lineup, Nikkei reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Apple Inc's cheapest handset will support 5G technology in its next iteration and its iPhone Mini will not be included in its 2022 lineup, Nikkei reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The company will start selling a 5G version of budget iPhone SE in the first half of 2022, Nikkei reported, adding the device will be powered by its A15 processor and its 5G connectivity will be enabled by Qualcomm Inc's X60 modem chip. Telecom operators have been spending billions of dollars to upgrade their networks to the much-touted 5G to enable faster internet and better coverage. However, analysts are skeptical of the uses of the technology to individual consumers and believe there are years to come before one can reap the actual benefits. Meanwhile, demand for iPhone Mini, the smaller version of Apple's flagship device has been muted, compared with its bigger and high-end models like iPhone 12 Pros and the older iPhone 11s as users prefer larger devices to run almost every day-to-day tasks. US sales of iPhone 12 Mini were just 5 per cent of overall sales of its new phones during the first half of January, according to industry data provider Counterpoint. Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

Apple to upgrade budget handset to 5G, drop iPhone Mini from 2022 lineup

On June 29, 2007 Apple Inc&nbsp;commanded the world’s attention with the release of the first-ever iPhone.&nbsp;

With a modest storage capacity of 4-8 GB, the phone wouldn’t stand a chance against advanced successors from the ongoing generation of iPhones. Even then, the release date of the first iPhone marks a historic moment in the smartphone industry which propelled the development of applications, the process of smartening phones, and to improve computer-like processing on small devices.

Here’s a look at how iPhones have evolved since 2007

<img alt="iPhone 1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9499c3a5-3666-4112-a31b-fb6547e4254a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_68.jpg" />

The iPhone 1, simply known as iPhone was announced in January 9, 2007 but was released on June 29, 2007, by the trailblazing CEO Steve Jobs. With a 3.5 inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera, the phone solidified the potential of pocket-size computers.&nbsp;

On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G, which built on the first-generation device. It offered more storage extending upto 16 GB and faster speeds with 3G connectivity. Location services were introduced in this model, which Jobs had once claimed were going to be&nbsp;the basis of what iPhones intended to achieve in the tech world.

<img alt="iPhone 3GS" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="11dfba95-4ccf-46f4-b991-4668263ac6a0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_54.jpg" />

A smaller update showed up a year later with iPhone 3GS, which offered storage upto 32 GB. It&nbsp;may seem like an insult to current device capabilities but signified a big step for miniature technology back in the day.

<img alt="iPhone 4" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="edcfc26f-a80f-4dbb-9ddc-c224540f4d5d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_43.jpg" />

In 2010, Apple was looking for ways to refine the iPhone experience and released the iPhone 4&nbsp;on June 24. The famous feature called FaceTime, which has come to define Apple devices was first offered on this iteration of the device. Apple’s Retina Display also made its debut on iPhone 4. A year later, iPhone 4S&nbsp;showed up, extending storage upto 64 GB.&nbsp;

<img alt="iPhone 5" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7df830d3-115e-4d7f-92ba-041ba155a596" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/4_14.jpg" />

But the company stepped up its game by releasing iPhone 5 on September 15, 2012. Slimmer, faster, and better looking, Steve Jobs called it the best thing to happen to iPhone since the original iPhone. A year later, smaller updates manifested in the iPhone 5S, which introduced us to fingerprint security and the modestly priced iPhone 5C.

<img alt="iPHone 6" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="96e8891e-2faa-4e7a-a0f7-824302d2dbed" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/5_8.jpg" />

With big screens dominating the market and Android phones boasting similar and sometimes better features on richer screens in 2014, Apple announced the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The latter was the company’s first large-screen phone with pure Apple joy spread across 5.5 inches.&nbsp;

Then appeared iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus in 2015 with a groundbreaking touch technology called 3D Touch&nbsp;which earned praise from users but was discontinued eventually.&nbsp;

<img alt="iPhone 7" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="788a33ad-e2c8-4a57-9ace-db03b6340ca2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/6_1.jpg" />

In 2016, Apple pushed the boundaries again when it announced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus series, which eliminated the audio jack, removed the home button,&nbsp;and introduced a dual camera.

Building on the risk-laden success of iPhone 7 series, Apple introduced the iPhone 8 series on September 12, 2017 which brought wireless charging to the smartphone line. In addition, the series also came with glass front and backs, similar to the design of iPhone 4 and 4S.&nbsp;

<img alt="iPhone X" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fda77db6-d41e-4790-af2b-5cec151f35cc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/7_0.jpg" />

But all that wasn’t enough. On the same day, the company announced iPhone X, an homage to&nbsp;company’s 10-year-long&nbsp;in the smartphone industry. With storage running upto 256 GB and an edge-to-edge display, the iPhone X gifted users with a richer experience courtesy of Super Retina Display. With it came a plethora of new features like Face ID, which replaced the Touch ID and used biometric facial data to unlock phones.

In between 2017-2021, Apple has released iPhone XR, iPhone XS/iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max which is largely built on the design and radical capabilities of the iPhone X.

<img alt="iPHone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e4638c72-af8b-435f-9a17-b48f2572803f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/8.jpg" />

The latest generation Apple smartphone is called iPhone 12, which also comes with a mini iteration called iPhone 12 Mini. The flagship packs Super Retina XDR display and introduced 5G connectivity to iPhones. Complementing these devices were iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which come with a&nbsp;super size screen measuring 6.7 inches.

The company has made great strides in packing life-size features in pocket-size devices that has in turn driven development of technology thought unimaginable less than a decade back.

Do you think Apple will keep the momentum going with its next generation of iPhones?

(Images 1-7:&nbsp;Wikimedia Commons, Image 8: AFP)

On June 29, 2007 Apple Inc commanded the world’s attention with the release of the first-ever iPhone. With a modest storage capacity of 4-8 GB, the phone wouldn’t stand a chance against advanced successors from the ongoing generation of iPhones.

On June 29, 2007 Apple Inc commanded the world’s attention with the release of the first-ever iPhone. With a modest storage capacity of 4-8 GB, the phone wouldn’t stand a chance against advanced successors from the ongoing generation of iPhones. Even then, the release date of the first iPhone marks a historic moment in the smartphone industry which propelled the development of applications, the process of smartening phones, and to improve computer-like processing on small devices. Here’s a look at how iPhones have evolved since 2007 The iPhone 1, simply known as iPhone was announced in January 9, 2007 but was released on June 29, 2007, by the trailblazing CEO Steve Jobs. With a 3.5 inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera, the phone solidified the potential of pocket-size computers. On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G, which built on the first-generation device. It offered more storage extending upto 16 GB and faster speeds with 3G connectivity. Location services were introduced in this model, which Jobs had once claimed were going to be the basis of what iPhones intended to achieve in the tech world. A smaller update showed up a year later with iPhone 3GS, which offered storage upto 32 GB. It may seem like an insult to current device capabilities but signified a big step for miniature technology back in the day. In 2010, Apple was looking for ways to refine the iPhone experience and released the iPhone 4 on June 24. The famous feature called FaceTime, which has come to define Apple devices was first offered on this iteration of the device. Apple’s Retina Display also made its debut on iPhone 4. A year later, iPhone 4S showed up, extending storage upto 64 GB. But the company stepped up its game by releasing iPhone 5 on September 15, 2012. Slimmer, faster, and better looking, Steve Jobs called it the best thing to happen to iPhone since the original iPhone. A year later, smaller updates manifested in the iPhone 5S, which introduced us to fingerprint security and the modestly priced iPhone 5C. With big screens dominating the market and Android phones boasting similar and sometimes better features on richer screens in 2014, Apple announced the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The latter was the company’s first large-screen phone with pure Apple joy spread across 5.5 inches. Then appeared iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus in 2015 with a groundbreaking touch technology called 3D Touch which earned praise from users but was discontinued eventually. In 2016, Apple pushed the boundaries again when it announced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus series, which eliminated the audio jack, removed the home button, and introduced a dual camera. Building on the risk-laden success of iPhone 7 series, Apple introduced the iPhone 8 series on September 12, 2017 which brought wireless charging to the smartphone line. In addition, the series also came with glass front and backs, similar to the design of iPhone 4 and 4S. But all that wasn’t enough. On the same day, the company announced iPhone X, an homage to company’s 10-year-long in the smartphone industry. With storage running upto 256 GB and an edge-to-edge display, the iPhone X gifted users with a richer experience courtesy of Super Retina Display. With it came a plethora of new features like Face ID, which replaced the Touch ID and used biometric facial data to unlock phones. In between 2017-2021, Apple has released iPhone XR, iPhone XS/iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max which is largely built on the design and radical capabilities of the iPhone X. The latest generation Apple smartphone is called iPhone 12, which also comes with a mini iteration called iPhone 12 Mini. The flagship packs Super Retina XDR display and introduced 5G connectivity to iPhones. Complementing these devices were iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which come with a super size screen measuring 6.7 inches. The company has made great strides in packing life-size features in pocket-size devices that has in turn driven development of technology thought unimaginable less than a decade back. Do you think Apple will keep the momentum going with its next generation of iPhones? (Images 1-7: Wikimedia Commons, Image 8: AFP)

iPhone celebrates 14 years: Take a look at the journey of Apple's smartphone devices

April Fools' Day is known for pranks, but did you know that it is also a landmark day for global tech industry? Watch the video to know more.

These tech firms mark April Fools' Day for a different reason

Apple's plans for a foldable iPhone, or iPhone Flip, are an open secret thanks to an influx of rumors and patent filings in recent weeks.&nbsp;

Economic Daily News said on Monday that Apple has sent several prototypes to its manufacturing supplier Foxconn for testing.&nbsp;

Apple is aiming to make it capable of withstanding at least 100,000 folds, and is weighing whether to use an OLED or micro-LED display, the report said.

Apple will likely aim to release this new phone in September 2022, which would coincide with the iPhone 14.&nbsp;

Another report last week suggested that this foldable iPhone would replace the iPad Mini in Apple's lineup.

Apple's plans for a foldable iPhone, or iPhone Flip, are an open secret thanks to an influx of rumors and patent filings in recent weeks. Economic Daily News said on Monday that Apple has sent several prototypes to its manufacturing supplier Foxconn for testing.

Apple's plans for a foldable iPhone, or iPhone Flip, are an open secret thanks to an influx of rumors and patent filings in recent weeks. Economic Daily News said on Monday that Apple has sent several prototypes to its manufacturing supplier Foxconn for testing. Apple is aiming to make it capable of withstanding at least 100,000 folds, and is weighing whether to use an OLED or micro-LED display, the report said. Apple will likely aim to release this new phone in September 2022, which would coincide with the iPhone 14. Another report last week suggested that this foldable iPhone would replace the iPad Mini in Apple's lineup.

Apple is testing foldable iPhone prototype for September 2022 release

Apple iPhone 12 launch event: What to expect!

The US giant Apple is expected to release new iPhones later today - October 13. The launch event is set to begin at 10 AM California time (10.30 PM IST). The tag line for today’s event is “Hi, Speed”.

Even though the company hasn’t revealed official details of any anticipated releases yet, the features and specs of the upcoming iPhones have been making the rounds on portals for a while now.

4 new iPhones?

If leaks and rumours are to be believed, Apple is launching not 3, but 4 phones this year!

The devices slated for release are as follows: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and a new spin to the device - iPhone 12 Mini, which will boast a 5.4 inch screen.

To cater to varying user needs, the company is releasing phones with different sizes, ranging from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches. The devices will come with OLED displays, and will also support 5G technology, paving way for it to become the standard in new phones now.

Apple is going to equip the new devices with its high-performance A14 chipset, and an improved camera.

How much will iPhone 12 cost?

In terms of pricing, the iPhone 12 series is set to begin pricing at $699 and go up to $1099 for the iPhone 12 Pro.

The launch event will take place in Apple Park, California at 10 AM local time. To stream the event live, one may go to the Apple website, or their official YouTube channel.&nbsp; Apple TV users can stream the event live!

According to reports, the company could also release “Air Tags” - a bluetooth tracker, a new HomePod smart speaker, a brand new Apple TV box, and new headphones that go over one’s head!

Apple iPhone 12 launch event: What to expect! The US giant Apple is expected to release new iPhones later today - October 13. The launch event is set to begin at 10 AM California time (10.

Apple iPhone 12 launch event: What to expect! The US giant Apple is expected to release new iPhones later today - October 13. The launch event is set to begin at 10 AM California time (10.30 PM IST). The tag line for today’s event is “Hi, Speed”. Even though the company hasn’t revealed official details of any anticipated releases yet, the features and specs of the upcoming iPhones have been making the rounds on portals for a while now. 4 new iPhones? If leaks and rumours are to be believed, Apple is launching not 3, but 4 phones this year! The devices slated for release are as follows: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and a new spin to the device - iPhone 12 Mini, which will boast a 5.4 inch screen. To cater to varying user needs, the company is releasing phones with different sizes, ranging from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches. The devices will come with OLED displays, and will also support 5G technology, paving way for it to become the standard in new phones now. Apple is going to equip the new devices with its high-performance A14 chipset, and an improved camera. How much will iPhone 12 cost? In terms of pricing, the iPhone 12 series is set to begin pricing at $699 and go up to $1099 for the iPhone 12 Pro. The launch event will take place in Apple Park, California at 10 AM local time. To stream the event live, one may go to the Apple website, or their official YouTube channel. Apple TV users can stream the event live! According to reports, the company could also release “Air Tags” - a bluetooth tracker, a new HomePod smart speaker, a brand new Apple TV box, and new headphones that go over one’s head!

Apple iPhone 12 launch event today: What to expect, when to watch, and more!

Apple Inc is set to launch its first online store in India on September 23, the iPhone maker said on Friday.

The launch date will coincide with the country's festive season.

The company currently sells its products in India through third-party vendors and e-commerce firms such as Amazon.com Inc and Walmart Inc-owned Flipkart.

Apple assembles some smartphones, including the iPhone 11, at Foxconn and Wistron's plants in two southern Indian states.

Through its online retail platform, Apple plans to offer assistance to customers in English and Hindi, while allowing users to engrave their iPads, Apple Pencil and Airpods in English and also in a handful of Indian languages, including Bengali and Gujarati.

India provides huge growth prospects for smartphone makers, as well as cheap labour to manufacture the devices.

Earlier this week, Apple rolled out a virtual fitness service and a bundle of all its subscriptions, Apple One.

(with inputs)

Apple Inc is set to launch its first online store in India on September 23, the iPhone maker said on Friday. The launch date will coincide with the country's festive season.

Apple Inc is set to launch its first online store in India on September 23, the iPhone maker said on Friday. The launch date will coincide with the country's festive season. The company currently sells its products in India through third-party vendors and e-commerce firms such as Amazon.com Inc and Walmart Inc-owned Flipkart. Apple assembles some smartphones, including the iPhone 11, at Foxconn and Wistron's plants in two southern Indian states. Through its online retail platform, Apple plans to offer assistance to customers in English and Hindi, while allowing users to engrave their iPads, Apple Pencil and Airpods in English and also in a handful of Indian languages, including Bengali and Gujarati. India provides huge growth prospects for smartphone makers, as well as cheap labour to manufacture the devices. Earlier this week, Apple rolled out a virtual fitness service and a bundle of all its subscriptions, Apple One. (with inputs)

Apple to launch first online store in India on September 23

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

WION Wallet: Apple to settle lawsuit for $500 Million | WION News | World News Apple will pay up to half a billion dollars to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of slowing down older iPhone models to compel users to buy new ones.

WION Wallet: Apple to settle lawsuit for $500 Million

Apple Inc's plea to avoid paying $440 million in damages to VirnetX Inc for using the patent licensing firm's security technology without permission in features such as FaceTime video calling was denied by the US Supreme Court.

Apple Inc's plea to avoid paying $440 million in damages to VirnetX Inc for using the patent licensing firm's security technology without permission in features such as FaceTime video calling was denied by the US Supreme Court. Apple's appeal was rejected by the judges in this case which spans a decade, wherein a Texas jury had discovered in 2016 that the iPhone manufacturer had infringed VirnetX's patents, following which the patent licensing firm was awarded $302 million. The amount was increased to $439.7 million including interest and other costs. Also Read: US jury asks Apple to pay $145 million in damages to Canada's WiLan In 2010, the Nevada-based VirnetX filed a lawsuit against California-based Apple of infringing four patents for secure networks, known as virtual private networks, and secure communications links. VirnetX was adamant that Apple infringed with its FaceTime and VPN on Demand features in products such as the iPhone and iPad. The judgement against apple was upheld last year by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. During the hearings, Apple and other tech titans requested a review of the validity of VirnetX patents by a tribunal of the US Patent and Trademark Office. Also Read: Samsung to pay $539 million to Apple for copying patented smartphone designs, features Key parts of the patents at issue, in this case, were cancelled by the Tribunal but in separate decisions issued last year, the Federal Circuit set aside certain of the tribunal's rulings which brought VirnetX closer to collecting damages from Apple. The world-renowned mobile phone manufacturer appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the damages should be recalculated because the specific patents VirnetX accused it of infringing with FaceTime were nearly wiped out. Also Read: Top US court rejects Samsung's appeal on patent loss to Apple In a court filing, Apple called the Federal Circuit's opposition to indulge its demands "legally wrong and grossly unfair." The company also stated that lower courts unlawfully granted requests from VirnetX and granted them compensation for damages far beyond the value of the patented invention. VirnetX issued a statement saying that "The entire damages award ... remains supported by claims that a jury - and the Federal Circuit - found valid years ago and that have not been cancelled since."

Apple appeals rejected by US Supreme Court in legal battle with VirnetX

A lower price tag and new features may not be enough for Apple Inc to win customers for its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/new-iphones-to-share-limelight-as-apple-revs-up-services-248911">newly-launched iPhone 11</a> series in China, the world's largest smartphone market that is already crowded with cheaper and feature-packed rival handsets.

Apple's unveiling of three new iPhones in California met with a limp reaction on Wednesday from analysts and on social media in China, where the US&nbsp;giant has been losing ground to competitors in recent years.

"More competitive aggressive pricing and a better camera would be its selling points, but the market is still full of challenges, both market competition and macroeconomic factors," said Will Wong, who tracks China's phone market at research firm IDC.

The iPhone 11 will have two back cameras, including an ultra-wide-angle lens and the next generation of microchips, the A13.

Prices start at $699, down from last year's new iPhone that started at $749. Apple also dropped the price of last year's equivalent model iPhone XR by $150.

The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro will have three cameras on the back and starts at $999. The bigger screen iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099.

As anticipated, none will be fifth generation-enabled, which puts the phones a step behind 5G models already released by Huawei Technologies and smaller rival Vivo.

"Since we still have to wait a year for 5G, why not just buy Huawei on Monday," said one user on China's Twitter-like service Weibo.

One meme doing the rounds on social media featured Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook bragging about the new features and Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, shutting him down by pointing out that Huawei has had those features for years.

When it came to features, one of the main draws of the new launch for US&nbsp;buyers,&nbsp;a $5 per month Netflix-like streaming service&nbsp;will not be available in China.

Price competition&nbsp;

Apple's share of the China market in the June quarter fell to 5.8 per cent&nbsp;from 6.4 per cent&nbsp;in the year-earlier period, according to research firm Canalys, as Huawei experienced a surge in support from Chinese consumers after the brand was caught up in a trade war between the United States and China.

Counterpoint analyst Neil Shah said the entry price, while lower by Apple, remains high compared to local rivals.

Combined with the lack of 5G, which made the new iPhones "less attractive and future-proof" for Chinese consumers, Shah said, forecasting that Apple will sell 30-35 million iPhones in China this year, down from 63 million phones in 2015.

Still, some analysts said that Apple's decision to lower the entry price for the new iPhone, one of the most discussed topics on Weibo on Wednesday, was a positive sign.

"We think the lower iPhone 11 price point and trade-in program will help promote upgrades, specifically in China, while the Apple Arcade and TV+ offerings will hep accelerate services growth," CFRA analyst Angelo Zino said in a research note.

The new phones will be available to order on Friday and start shipping September 20.

A lower price tag and new features may not be enough for Apple Inc to win customers for its newly-launched iPhone 11 series in China, the world's largest smartphone market that is already crowded with cheaper and feature-packed rival handsets.

A lower price tag and new features may not be enough for Apple Inc to win customers for its newly-launched iPhone 11 series in China, the world's largest smartphone market that is already crowded with cheaper and feature-packed rival handsets. Apple's unveiling of three new iPhones in California met with a limp reaction on Wednesday from analysts and on social media in China, where the US giant has been losing ground to competitors in recent years. "More competitive aggressive pricing and a better camera would be its selling points, but the market is still full of challenges, both market competition and macroeconomic factors," said Will Wong, who tracks China's phone market at research firm IDC. The iPhone 11 will have two back cameras, including an ultra-wide-angle lens and the next generation of microchips, the A13. Prices start at $699, down from last year's new iPhone that started at $749. Apple also dropped the price of last year's equivalent model iPhone XR by $150. The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro will have three cameras on the back and starts at $999. The bigger screen iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099. As anticipated, none will be fifth generation-enabled, which puts the phones a step behind 5G models already released by Huawei Technologies and smaller rival Vivo. "Since we still have to wait a year for 5G, why not just buy Huawei on Monday," said one user on China's Twitter-like service Weibo. One meme doing the rounds on social media featured Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook bragging about the new features and Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, shutting him down by pointing out that Huawei has had those features for years. When it came to features, one of the main draws of the new launch for US buyers, a $5 per month Netflix-like streaming service will not be available in China. Price competition Apple's share of the China market in the June quarter fell to 5.8 per cent from 6.4 per cent in the year-earlier period, according to research firm Canalys, as Huawei experienced a surge in support from Chinese consumers after the brand was caught up in a trade war between the United States and China. Counterpoint analyst Neil Shah said the entry price, while lower by Apple, remains high compared to local rivals. Combined with the lack of 5G, which made the new iPhones "less attractive and future-proof" for Chinese consumers, Shah said, forecasting that Apple will sell 30-35 million iPhones in China this year, down from 63 million phones in 2015. Still, some analysts said that Apple's decision to lower the entry price for the new iPhone, one of the most discussed topics on Weibo on Wednesday, was a positive sign. "We think the lower iPhone 11 price point and trade-in program will help promote upgrades, specifically in China, while the Apple Arcade and TV+ offerings will hep accelerate services growth," CFRA analyst Angelo Zino said in a research note. The new phones will be available to order on Friday and start shipping September 20.

Tepid reaction for Apple's new iPhones in China amid tough competition

China's Huawei Technologies has punished two employees for New Year greetings sent on the smartphone maker's official Twitter account using an iPhone, an internal memo showed.

Huawei, whose P-series handsets compete with Apple's iPhone, on New Year's Day wished followers a "Happy #2019" in a tweet marked sent "via Twitter for iPhone".

The tweet was quickly removed but screenshots of the blunder spread across social media.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The Brand <a href="https://twitter.com/Huawei?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Huawei</a> who claim to make best android phones started their 1st New Year from <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iPhone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iPhone</a>. Amazing New Year 2019 <a href="https://t.co/fMRAtHOHqF">pic.twitter.com/fMRAtHOHqF</a>
— Tech Ghost (@akashtg6) <a href="https://twitter.com/akashtg6/status/1080902779256930304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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"The traitor has revealed himself," quipped one user on microblog Weibo, in a comment 'liked' over 600 times.

In an internal Huawei memo dated January 3 seen by Reuters, corporate senior vice-president and director of the board Chen Lifang said, "the incident caused damage to the Huawei brand".

The mistake occurred when outsourced social media handler Sapient experienced "VPN problems" with a desktop computer so used an iPhone with a roaming SIM card in order to send the message on time at midnight, Huawei said in the memo.

Twitter, like several foreign services such as those from Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc, is blocked in China, where the Internet is heavily censored. To gain access, users need a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

Huawei, which overtook Apple as the world's second-largest smartphone vendor by volume in January-September, declined to comment on internal issues.

Sapient did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent via the contact form on its website. Calls to its Beijing office went unanswered.

Huawei in the memo said the blunder showed "procedural incompliance" and management oversight. It said it had demoted two employees responsible by one rank and reduced their monthly salaries by 5,000 yuan ($728.27).

The pay rank of one of the employees - Huawei's digital marketing director - will also be frozen for 12 months, it said.

It is not the first time use of the Apple product has given cause for embarrassment.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of nationalistic tabloid Global Times, was mocked online last year after he used his iPhone when expressing support for Huawei and domestic peer ZTE Corp. He later said his actions were not hypocritical as foreign brands should not be discriminated against.

China's Huawei Technologies has punished two employees for New Year greetings sent on the smartphone maker's official Twitter account using an iPhone, an internal memo showed.

China's Huawei Technologies has punished two employees for New Year greetings sent on the smartphone maker's official Twitter account using an iPhone, an internal memo showed. Huawei, whose P-series handsets compete with Apple's iPhone, on New Year's Day wished followers a "Happy #2019" in a tweet marked sent "via Twitter for iPhone". The tweet was quickly removed but screenshots of the blunder spread across social media. The Brand @Huawei who claim to make best android phones started their 1st New Year from @Apple #iPhone. Amazing New Year 2019 pic.twitter.com/fMRAtHOHqF — Tech Ghost (@akashtg6) January 3, 2019 × "The traitor has revealed himself," quipped one user on microblog Weibo, in a comment 'liked' over 600 times. In an internal Huawei memo dated January 3 seen by Reuters, corporate senior vice-president and director of the board Chen Lifang said, "the incident caused damage to the Huawei brand". The mistake occurred when outsourced social media handler Sapient experienced "VPN problems" with a desktop computer so used an iPhone with a roaming SIM card in order to send the message on time at midnight, Huawei said in the memo. Twitter, like several foreign services such as those from Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc, is blocked in China, where the Internet is heavily censored. To gain access, users need a virtual private network (VPN) connection. Huawei, which overtook Apple as the world's second-largest smartphone vendor by volume in January-September, declined to comment on internal issues. Sapient did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent via the contact form on its website. Calls to its Beijing office went unanswered. Huawei in the memo said the blunder showed "procedural incompliance" and management oversight. It said it had demoted two employees responsible by one rank and reduced their monthly salaries by 5,000 yuan ($728.27). The pay rank of one of the employees - Huawei's digital marketing director - will also be frozen for 12 months, it said. It is not the first time use of the Apple product has given cause for embarrassment. Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of nationalistic tabloid Global Times, was mocked online last year after he used his iPhone when expressing support for Huawei and domestic peer ZTE Corp. He later said his actions were not hypocritical as foreign brands should not be discriminated against.

Huawei employees who used iPhone to post New Year greeting on its Twitter handle punished

More than a decade ago, when Apple introduced the iPhone, it changed the way users interacted with a mobile phone. The app store and the whole new user experience gave mobile phones an entirely different meaning, and companies a different aim.

Many industry leaders and start-ups sprung up, dishing out phone with bigger screens, better cameras and faster speed. These phones did change people's lifestyles, but over the years, the smartphone market reached a saturation point.

Today, there are thousands of phone with incremental change, but no real innovation.

So, some companies have decided to pull up their socks and make aggressive attempts to break away from stagnation. And the new smartphone trends are now expected to reinvent the phone once again.

One such innovation is the modular phone which lets you improve the smartphone experience without having to change your phone. Just choose the module (known as Mods) of your choice and you can have better sound or better picture quality.

<img alt="Modular phone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="03a56c38-58d0-466e-beb6-c349cba0d06d" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Motorola-speaker-mod-wion.jpg" />

The modular design has a lot of potential and it is expected to transform the smartphone experience in the coming years. LG and Motorola are the early starters, but the technology is still in the initial stages.

Another new innovation in the smartphone game is the foldable display recently unveiled by South Korean smartphone maker Samsung. There is no word on when the phone will hit the market, but the company has approached Android programmers to start writing apps for the product.

While Samsung has only displayed the foldable phone, a Chinese smartphone maker has already launched one such smartphone.

Royole Corp, a little-known Chinese tech company, has outstripped Samsung to the foldable smartphone punch by launching the Flexpai. This foldable phone is touted to be durable and unbreakable. The screen is made from plastic and the phone runs its own operating system called Water which is based on Android.
<img alt="The foldable display unveiled by hinese company Royole." data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The foldable display unveiled by Chinese company Royole.&lt;/em&gt;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afb2b76b-4cfe-4cab-8d81-cd882f831ee8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Royole-foldabl-display-reuters.jpg" />
The Flexpai's base model is priced around US $1,300 and it's expected to go on sale by the end of the year.

5G could be another catalyst for smartphones. The emerging mobile technology will enable phones to offer a faster experience which means the internet experience will become a breeze.

Interestingly, companies such as LG and Huawei have already announced their plans to relase their 5G phones in 2019.

Smartphones are expected to evolve with more immersive experiences, driven by Artificial Intelligence and gesture control. New innovations will keep happening, and the smartphones will continue to be smarter.

More than a decade ago, when Apple introduced the iPhone, it changed the way users interacted with a mobile phone. The app store and the whole new user experience gave mobile phones an entirely different meaning, and companies a different aim.

More than a decade ago, when Apple introduced the iPhone, it changed the way users interacted with a mobile phone. The app store and the whole new user experience gave mobile phones an entirely different meaning, and companies a different aim. Many industry leaders and start-ups sprung up, dishing out phone with bigger screens, better cameras and faster speed. These phones did change people's lifestyles, but over the years, the smartphone market reached a saturation point. Today, there are thousands of phone with incremental change, but no real innovation. So, some companies have decided to pull up their socks and make aggressive attempts to break away from stagnation. And the new smartphone trends are now expected to reinvent the phone once again. One such innovation is the modular phone which lets you improve the smartphone experience without having to change your phone. Just choose the module (known as Mods) of your choice and you can have better sound or better picture quality. The modular design has a lot of potential and it is expected to transform the smartphone experience in the coming years. LG and Motorola are the early starters, but the technology is still in the initial stages. Another new innovation in the smartphone game is the foldable display recently unveiled by South Korean smartphone maker Samsung. There is no word on when the phone will hit the market, but the company has approached Android programmers to start writing apps for the product. While Samsung has only displayed the foldable phone, a Chinese smartphone maker has already launched one such smartphone. Royole Corp, a little-known Chinese tech company, has outstripped Samsung to the foldable smartphone punch by launching the Flexpai. This foldable phone is touted to be durable and unbreakable. The screen is made from plastic and the phone runs its own operating system called Water which is based on Android. The Flexpai's base model is priced around US $1,300 and it's expected to go on sale by the end of the year. 5G could be another catalyst for smartphones. The emerging mobile technology will enable phones to offer a faster experience which means the internet experience will become a breeze. Interestingly, companies such as LG and Huawei have already announced their plans to relase their 5G phones in 2019. Smartphones are expected to evolve with more immersive experiences, driven by Artificial Intelligence and gesture control. New innovations will keep happening, and the smartphones will continue to be smarter.

Foldable display to 5G: New trends that could reinvent smartphones

Dozens of Chinese iPhone users have recently complained that their money was stolen through online payment services after their Apple accounts were allegedly hacked by cyber attackers.

Two major pay pals in China, WeChat payment and AliPay, have been involved in various cases.

AliPay said in its Weibo blog that it contacted Apple and is working to get to the bottom of the breach. It also advised users who have linked their Apple identities to any payment services to lower transaction limits to prevent further losses.

Similar reports have been circulating on Chinese social media platforms with hundreds of people claiming to be the victims of the Apple ID breach. Some even claimed to have lost as much as 10,000 yuan.

Ms Hu living in Hangzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province is one of the victims. Hu found that her phone keep popping out payment messages on Wednesday, in which they said that her account had paid 6,707 yuan for online games.

"I checked roughly and learned that those unauthorized payments ranged from 3 to 5 yuan, to 500, 600 and 1,000 yuan each. I then checked my Merchants Bank account and found that the records of all unauthorized transactions were consistent with those messages. It means that I made the payments in the Apple app store without my authorization and most of them were made for recharge cards of games," said Hu.

Ms Xi from Tiantai County of Taizhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province shared the same story with Hu. Xi saw her AliPay account make an unauthorized payment totalling 3,836 yuan on Tuesday afternoon alone.

"I paid about 4,000 yuan for recharge cards of the game Honor of Kings in the Apple app store. The first payment is 50 yuan and the three subsequent transactions are each worth 1,000 yuan. And there are also several payments of 118 yuan each. About 4,000 yuan was paid within just three minutes for accumulation of points from 44 to 47 on the game that I have never played," said Xi.

Xi then connected the AliPay service from which she was told that the company has to verify the case with Apple as Xi previously signed an online contract according to which some payments will be automatically made without inputting payment code.

According to Mr Xu who lives in northeast China's Jilin Province, he called the Apple service center three times after his account made unauthorized transactions totalling 2,592 yuan on Monday.

Xu was told that the company won't refund the money under the company's rules and regulations.

Apple told the press that they are still investigating the cases and no further comments have been made by it as of Friday.

Dozens of Chinese iPhone users have recently complained that their money was stolen through online payment services after their Apple accounts were allegedly hacked by cyber attackers.

Dozens of Chinese iPhone users have recently complained that their money was stolen through online payment services after their Apple accounts were allegedly hacked by cyber attackers. Two major pay pals in China, WeChat payment and AliPay, have been involved in various cases. AliPay said in its Weibo blog that it contacted Apple and is working to get to the bottom of the breach. It also advised users who have linked their Apple identities to any payment services to lower transaction limits to prevent further losses. Similar reports have been circulating on Chinese social media platforms with hundreds of people claiming to be the victims of the Apple ID breach. Some even claimed to have lost as much as 10,000 yuan. Ms Hu living in Hangzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province is one of the victims. Hu found that her phone keep popping out payment messages on Wednesday, in which they said that her account had paid 6,707 yuan for online games. "I checked roughly and learned that those unauthorized payments ranged from 3 to 5 yuan, to 500, 600 and 1,000 yuan each. I then checked my Merchants Bank account and found that the records of all unauthorized transactions were consistent with those messages. It means that I made the payments in the Apple app store without my authorization and most of them were made for recharge cards of games," said Hu. Ms Xi from Tiantai County of Taizhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province shared the same story with Hu. Xi saw her AliPay account make an unauthorized payment totalling 3,836 yuan on Tuesday afternoon alone. "I paid about 4,000 yuan for recharge cards of the game Honor of Kings in the Apple app store. The first payment is 50 yuan and the three subsequent transactions are each worth 1,000 yuan. And there are also several payments of 118 yuan each. About 4,000 yuan was paid within just three minutes for accumulation of points from 44 to 47 on the game that I have never played," said Xi. Xi then connected the AliPay service from which she was told that the company has to verify the case with Apple as Xi previously signed an online contract according to which some payments will be automatically made without inputting payment code. According to Mr Xu who lives in northeast China's Jilin Province, he called the Apple service center three times after his account made unauthorized transactions totalling 2,592 yuan on Monday. Xu was told that the company won't refund the money under the company's rules and regulations. Apple told the press that they are still investigating the cases and no further comments have been made by it as of Friday.

IPhone users see money taken as Apple IDs believed to have been hacked

Apple today apologised to its customers for slowing down the performance of older iPhone models and said it would discount replacement batteries for some of its handsets.

The move by Apple responded to an uproar from iPhone users -- and a series of lawsuits -- after news of the battery problems stoked concerns the company was unfairly nudging consumers to upgrade.

&quot;We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologise,&quot; Apple said in a message to customers on its website.

&quot;We&#39;ve always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible. We&#39;re proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors&#39; devices.&quot;

Apple said it was reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement from&nbsp; $79 to $29 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later model whose battery needs to be replaced, starting in late January through December 2018.

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&nbsp;

The company said it also would issue a software update to make it easier for customers to see if an ageing battery is affecting performance.

&quot;As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid unexpected shutdowns as batteries age,&quot; the statement said.

The controversy erupted last week after Apple acknowledged a feature to &quot;smooth out&quot; spikes in demand for power to prevent iPhone 6 models from shutting down due to the cold or weak batteries.

Rumours had persisted for years at tech news websites devoted to Apple products and among fans of the company&#39;s products that iPhone performance was being intentionally slowed, perhaps to push users to buy newer models.

Apple&#39;s latest statement said that &quot;we have never -- and would never -- do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.&quot;

But it noted that &quot;batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they chemically age&quot; and that factors such as heat can affect performance.

Apple said a software update last year &quot;manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown&quot; and that &quot;in some cases&nbsp;users may experience longer launch times for apps and other reductions in performance.&quot;

'We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologise' Apple said in a message to customers on its website

Apple today apologised to its customers for slowing down the performance of older iPhone models and said it would discount replacement batteries for some of its handsets. The move by Apple responded to an uproar from iPhone users -- and a series of lawsuits -- after news of the battery problems stoked concerns the company was unfairly nudging consumers to upgrade. "We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologise," Apple said in a message to customers on its website. "We've always wanted our customers to be able to use their iPhones as long as possible. We're proud that Apple products are known for their durability, and for holding their value longer than our competitors' devices." Apple said it was reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement from $79 to $29 for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later model whose battery needs to be replaced, starting in late January through December 2018. × The company said it also would issue a software update to make it easier for customers to see if an ageing battery is affecting performance. "As always, our team is working on ways to make the user experience even better, including improving how we manage performance and avoid unexpected shutdowns as batteries age," the statement said. The controversy erupted last week after Apple acknowledged a feature to "smooth out" spikes in demand for power to prevent iPhone 6 models from shutting down due to the cold or weak batteries. Rumours had persisted for years at tech news websites devoted to Apple products and among fans of the company's products that iPhone performance was being intentionally slowed, perhaps to push users to buy newer models. Apple's latest statement said that "we have never -- and would never -- do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades." But it noted that "batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they chemically age" and that factors such as heat can affect performance. Apple said a software update last year "manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown" and that "in some cases users may experience longer launch times for apps and other reductions in performance."

Apple apologises for slowing iPhones, offers discounted batteries

The iPhone X is no doubt one of the most best Apple smartphones yet, and among its highlights is the new Face ID feature. As is the norm, Android smartphone companies have been quick to replicate the Face ID feature. But if you think Apple is concerned, a recent interview by Phil Schiller puts those fears to rest.

In an interview with Dutch website <a href="https://www.bright.nl/nieuws/phil-schiller-face-id-data-isnt-shared-third-party-developers">Bright.nl</a>, Apple&rsquo;s marketing chief had a short review for Android smartphone companies&rsquo; attempts at Face ID - &ldquo;They all stink&rdquo;. Schiller further said that he isn&rsquo;t surprised that other companies are attempting to replicate the feature, &ldquo;Because when we do things really good, others like to copy us.&rdquo;

&ldquo;They don&rsquo;t work in all the ways we need Face ID to work,&rdquo; Schiller said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very aware that through the years the simple thing, this home button, that started as the way you click to get to the Home screen, grew into doing so many things for us. We added Touch ID, it took you to the multitasking screen, paged Siri, activated Apple Pay. All through this one mechanical button.&rdquo;

He added, &ldquo;So for Face ID we needed the best way we know of to enable us to easily unlock our device with our face, in a protected way with the Secure Enclave, and support all these other things. We had to solve all of that. Other things that people have tried with face haven&rsquo;t been anything like that. Face ID is a very unique implementation.&rdquo;

Since the unveiling of the Apple iPhone X and the Face ID feature, a bunch of smartphone companies have tried to replicate it. The likes of Samsung and Xiaomi have opted for iris scanners as an added layer of security. OnePlus though has included a feature on the OnePlus 5T that is very similar to Face ID. That&rsquo;s not all either. Even Huawei&rsquo;s sub-brand Honor has adopted the feature for its premium View10 smartphone. The Chinese company claims that its feature is more accurate and seamless. It also recently showcased its Animoji feature that is clearly more advanced than Apple&rsquo;s.

Apart from its uniqueness, Apple&rsquo;s Face ID feature was also in the news because of apparent privacy concerns. But Schiller said that no third-party developer has access to the Face ID data. He also reiterated that Face ID is much more secure than Touch ID. During the launch event, Apple had said that hackers had one in 50,000 chance to hack Touch ID, but one in a million to hack Face ID. That being said, YouTube is being flooded with videos of people managing to fool Face ID by using masks.

Schiller further said that he isn?t surprised that other companies are attempting to replicate the feature, ?Because when we do things really good, others like to copy us.?

The iPhone X is no doubt one of the most best Apple smartphones yet, and among its highlights is the new Face ID feature. As is the norm, Android smartphone companies have been quick to replicate the Face ID feature. But if you think Apple is concerned, a recent interview by Phil Schiller puts those fears to rest. In an interview with Dutch website Bright.nl, Apple’s marketing chief had a short review for Android smartphone companies’ attempts at Face ID - “They all stink”. Schiller further said that he isn’t surprised that other companies are attempting to replicate the feature, “Because when we do things really good, others like to copy us.” “They don’t work in all the ways we need Face ID to work,” Schiller said. “We’re very aware that through the years the simple thing, this home button, that started as the way you click to get to the Home screen, grew into doing so many things for us. We added Touch ID, it took you to the multitasking screen, paged Siri, activated Apple Pay. All through this one mechanical button.” He added, “So for Face ID we needed the best way we know of to enable us to easily unlock our device with our face, in a protected way with the Secure Enclave, and support all these other things. We had to solve all of that. Other things that people have tried with face haven’t been anything like that. Face ID is a very unique implementation.” Since the unveiling of the Apple iPhone X and the Face ID feature, a bunch of smartphone companies have tried to replicate it. The likes of Samsung and Xiaomi have opted for iris scanners as an added layer of security. OnePlus though has included a feature on the OnePlus 5T that is very similar to Face ID. That’s not all either. Even Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has adopted the feature for its premium View10 smartphone. The Chinese company claims that its feature is more accurate and seamless. It also recently showcased its Animoji feature that is clearly more advanced than Apple’s. Apart from its uniqueness, Apple’s Face ID feature was also in the news because of apparent privacy concerns. But Schiller said that no third-party developer has access to the Face ID data. He also reiterated that Face ID is much more secure than Touch ID. During the launch event, Apple had said that hackers had one in 50,000 chance to hack Touch ID, but one in a million to hack Face ID. That being said, YouTube is being flooded with videos of people managing to fool Face ID by using masks.

iPhone X-like Face ID features on Android smartphones 'stink': Apple's Phil Schiller

Apple profits soared by a fifth as its flagship iPhone X hit stores in Asia Friday, with the company predicting bumper sales despite its eye-watering price tag.

Net profit rose 19 per cent from a year ago to $10.7 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter to September 30, Apple said. Revenues were up 12 per cent to $52.6 billion.

Release of the earnings figures pushed Apple shares up more than three per cent to $173.20 and came as iPhone X models began hitting the market in some time zones.

The flagship handset features facial recognition, cordless charging and an edge-to-edge screen made of organic light-emitting diodes used in high-end televisions.

It marks the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone release and hits about 50 markets around the world on Friday.&nbsp;

In Hong Kong, buyers who had pre-ordered the phone online queued to pick up their new purchases, saying they were willing to pay for what they saw as a landmark model.

&quot;It&rsquo;s the 10th anniversary phone - anyway, other phones like the Samsung are not much less,&quot; said banker Tony Yeung, 35, as he queued outside the Apple store in Hong Kong&rsquo;s Festival Walk mall.&nbsp;

&quot;It&rsquo;s convenient. You can unlock the phone just by holding it up to your face in bed after you wake up,&quot; Yeung added.

He said he had bought two of the 64 GB version, costing HK$8,588 ($1,100), one for himself and one for his wife. The 256 GB model costs HK$9,888.&nbsp;

Student Keith Li said all his friends were changing to the new phone and had set aside money for it. Li, 22, had traded in his old phone to help him meet the cost.&nbsp;

Inside the Hong Kong store, those still considering whether to buy were trying out facial recognition after concerns it may compromise the security of the phone.

Nam So, 36, said he was happy to use it, preferring it to touch ID, which opens the phone at the touch of a finger.

&quot;If your thumb is sweaty then it won&rsquo;t unlock. Face ID would solve this problem,&quot; he told AFP. Around 300 customers waited overnight outside Singapore&rsquo;s Apple store, the first shop in Southeast Asia to sell the new model.

Supakorn Rieksiri and Kittiwat Wang, both 22, said they had flown in from Bangkok on Thursday to pick up pre-orders of two phones each.&nbsp;

&quot;With all the different features like facial recognition and the bigger screen, it`s all quite worth it,&quot; said Rieksiri, adding that the second handset was a gift for his mother.&nbsp;

Apple is setting an ambitious goal for itself to reinvent the smartphone as it strives to fend off fierce competition from rivals, especially in China.

The iPhone is its main profit driver, accounting for more than half its revenues.

Apple closed out its fiscal year posting a full-year profit of $48.35 billion, up 5.8 per cent, on revenues of $229 billion, a rise of 6.3 per cent from the previous year.

In the latest quarter the firm was able to reverse its fortunes in China, boosting overall sales by 12 per cent in the &quot;Greater China&quot; region. Sales were up in other regions except for Japan, which saw an 11 per cent revenue drop.

Smartphone sales climbed by about a million units to 46.7 million in the three months winding up the California company&rsquo;s fiscal year, according to the earnings report.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook called it a &quot;very strong finish&quot; to 2017.

Apple profits soared by a fifth as its flagship iPhone X hit stores in Asia Friday, with the company predicting bumper sales despite its eye-watering price tag.

Apple profits soared by a fifth as its flagship iPhone X hit stores in Asia Friday, with the company predicting bumper sales despite its eye-watering price tag. Net profit rose 19 per cent from a year ago to $10.7 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter to September 30, Apple said. Revenues were up 12 per cent to $52.6 billion. Release of the earnings figures pushed Apple shares up more than three per cent to $173.20 and came as iPhone X models began hitting the market in some time zones. The flagship handset features facial recognition, cordless charging and an edge-to-edge screen made of organic light-emitting diodes used in high-end televisions. It marks the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone release and hits about 50 markets around the world on Friday. In Hong Kong, buyers who had pre-ordered the phone online queued to pick up their new purchases, saying they were willing to pay for what they saw as a landmark model. "It’s the 10th anniversary phone - anyway, other phones like the Samsung are not much less," said banker Tony Yeung, 35, as he queued outside the Apple store in Hong Kong’s Festival Walk mall. "It’s convenient. You can unlock the phone just by holding it up to your face in bed after you wake up," Yeung added. He said he had bought two of the 64 GB version, costing HK$8,588 ($1,100), one for himself and one for his wife. The 256 GB model costs HK$9,888. Student Keith Li said all his friends were changing to the new phone and had set aside money for it. Li, 22, had traded in his old phone to help him meet the cost. Inside the Hong Kong store, those still considering whether to buy were trying out facial recognition after concerns it may compromise the security of the phone. Nam So, 36, said he was happy to use it, preferring it to touch ID, which opens the phone at the touch of a finger. "If your thumb is sweaty then it won’t unlock. Face ID would solve this problem," he told AFP. Around 300 customers waited overnight outside Singapore’s Apple store, the first shop in Southeast Asia to sell the new model. Supakorn Rieksiri and Kittiwat Wang, both 22, said they had flown in from Bangkok on Thursday to pick up pre-orders of two phones each. "With all the different features like facial recognition and the bigger screen, it`s all quite worth it," said Rieksiri, adding that the second handset was a gift for his mother. Apple is setting an ambitious goal for itself to reinvent the smartphone as it strives to fend off fierce competition from rivals, especially in China. The iPhone is its main profit driver, accounting for more than half its revenues. Apple closed out its fiscal year posting a full-year profit of $48.35 billion, up 5.8 per cent, on revenues of $229 billion, a rise of 6.3 per cent from the previous year. In the latest quarter the firm was able to reverse its fortunes in China, boosting overall sales by 12 per cent in the "Greater China" region. Sales were up in other regions except for Japan, which saw an 11 per cent revenue drop. Smartphone sales climbed by about a million units to 46.7 million in the three months winding up the California company’s fiscal year, according to the earnings report. Apple chief executive Tim Cook called it a "very strong finish" to 2017.

Apple's iPhone X hits Asia stores as profits soar

Apple will let you unlock the iPhone X with your face -- a move likely to bring facial recognition to the masses, along with concerns over how the technology may be used for nefarious purposes.

Apple&#39;s newest device, set to go on sale November 3, is designed to be unlocked with a facial scan with a number of privacy safeguards -- as the data will only be stored on the phone and not in any databases.

Unlocking one&#39;s phone with a face scan may offer added convenience and security for iPhone users, according to Apple, which claims its &quot;neural engine&quot; for FaceID cannot be tricked by a photo or hacker.

While other devices have offered facial recognition, Apple is the first to pack the technology allowing for a three-dimensional scan into a hand-held phone.

But despite Apple&#39;s safeguards, privacy activists fear the widespread use of facial recognition would &quot;normalise&quot; the technology and open the door to broader use by law enforcement, marketers or others of a largely unregulated tool.

&quot;Apple has done a number of things well for privacy but it&#39;s not always going to be about the iPhone X,&quot; said Jay Stanley, a policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union.

&quot;There are real reasons to worry that facial recognition will work its way into our culture and become a surveillance technology that is abused.&quot;

A study last year by Georgetown University researchers found nearly half of all Americans in a law enforcement database that includes facial recognition, without their consent.

Civil liberties groups have sued over the FBI&#39;s use of its &quot;next generation&quot; biometric database, which includes facial profiles, claiming it has a high error rate and the potential for tracking innocent people.

&quot;We don&#39;t want police officers having a watch list embedded in their body cameras scanning faces on the sidewalk,&quot; said Stanley.

Clare Garvie -- the Georgetown University Law School associate who led the 2016 study on facial recognition databases -- agreed that Apple is taking a responsible approach but others might not. 
&quot;My concern is that the public is going to become inured or complacent about this,&quot; Garvie said.

Widespread use of facial recognition &quot;could make our lives more trackable by advertisers, by law enforcement and maybe someday by private individuals,&quot; she said.

Garvie said her research found significant errors in law enforcement facial recognition databases, opening up the possibility someone could be wrongly identified as a criminal suspect.

Another worry, she said, is that police could track individuals who have committed no crime simply for participating in demonstrations.

Shanghai and other Chinese cities have recently started deploying facial recognition to catch those who flout the rules of the road, including jaywalkers.

Facial recognition and related technologies can also be used by retail stores to identify potential shoplifters, and by casinos to pinpoint undesirable gamblers.

It can even be used to deliver personalized marketing messages -- and could have some other potentially unnerving applications.

Last year, a Russian photographer figured out how to match the faces of porn stars with their social media profiles to &quot;doxx&quot; them, or reveal their true identities.

This type of use &quot;can create huge problems,&quot; said Garvie. &quot;We have to consider the worst possible uses of the technology.&quot;

Apple&#39;s system uses 30,000 infrared dots to create a digital image which is stored in a &quot;secure enclave,&quot; according to a white paper issued by the company on its security. It said the chances of a &quot;random&quot; person being able to unlock the device are one in a million, compared with one in 50,000 for its TouchID.

Apple&#39;s FaceID is likely to touch off fresh legal battles about whether police can require someone to unlock a device.

FaceID &quot;brings the company deeper into a legal debate&quot; that stemmed from the introduction of fingerprint identification on smartphones, according to ACLU staff attorney Brett Max Kaufman.

Kaufman says in a blog post that courts will be grappling with the constitutional guarantees against unreasonable searches and self-incrimination if a suspect is forced to unlock a device.

US courts have generally ruled that it would violate a user&#39;s rights to give up a passcode because it is &quot;testimonial&quot; -- but that situation becomes murkier when biometrics are applied.

Apple appears to have anticipated this situation by allowing a user to press two buttons for two seconds to require a passcode, but Garvie said court battles over compelling the use of FaceID are likely. 
Regardless of these concerns, Apple&#39;s introduction is likely to bring about widespread use of facial recognition technology.

&quot;What Apple is doing here will popularize and get people more comfortable with the technology,&quot; said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights &amp; Strategy, who follows the sector.

&quot;If I look at Apple&#39;s track record of making things easy for consumers, I&#39;m optimistic users are going to like this.&quot;

Garvie added it is important to have conversations about facial recognition because there is little regulation governing the use of the technology.

&quot;The technology may well be inevitable,&quot; she said.

&quot;It is going to become part of everyone&#39;s lives if it isn&#39;t already.&quot;

 
&nbsp;

Apple will let you unlock the iPhone X with your face along with concerns over how the technology may be used for nefarious purposes

Apple will let you unlock the iPhone X with your face -- a move likely to bring facial recognition to the masses, along with concerns over how the technology may be used for nefarious purposes. Apple's newest device, set to go on sale November 3, is designed to be unlocked with a facial scan with a number of privacy safeguards -- as the data will only be stored on the phone and not in any databases. Unlocking one's phone with a face scan may offer added convenience and security for iPhone users, according to Apple, which claims its "neural engine" for FaceID cannot be tricked by a photo or hacker. While other devices have offered facial recognition, Apple is the first to pack the technology allowing for a three-dimensional scan into a hand-held phone. But despite Apple's safeguards, privacy activists fear the widespread use of facial recognition would "normalise" the technology and open the door to broader use by law enforcement, marketers or others of a largely unregulated tool. "Apple has done a number of things well for privacy but it's not always going to be about the iPhone X," said Jay Stanley, a policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union. "There are real reasons to worry that facial recognition will work its way into our culture and become a surveillance technology that is abused." A study last year by Georgetown University researchers found nearly half of all Americans in a law enforcement database that includes facial recognition, without their consent. Civil liberties groups have sued over the FBI's use of its "next generation" biometric database, which includes facial profiles, claiming it has a high error rate and the potential for tracking innocent people. "We don't want police officers having a watch list embedded in their body cameras scanning faces on the sidewalk," said Stanley. Clare Garvie -- the Georgetown University Law School associate who led the 2016 study on facial recognition databases -- agreed that Apple is taking a responsible approach but others might not. "My concern is that the public is going to become inured or complacent about this," Garvie said. Widespread use of facial recognition "could make our lives more trackable by advertisers, by law enforcement and maybe someday by private individuals," she said. Garvie said her research found significant errors in law enforcement facial recognition databases, opening up the possibility someone could be wrongly identified as a criminal suspect. Another worry, she said, is that police could track individuals who have committed no crime simply for participating in demonstrations. Shanghai and other Chinese cities have recently started deploying facial recognition to catch those who flout the rules of the road, including jaywalkers. Facial recognition and related technologies can also be used by retail stores to identify potential shoplifters, and by casinos to pinpoint undesirable gamblers. It can even be used to deliver personalized marketing messages -- and could have some other potentially unnerving applications. Last year, a Russian photographer figured out how to match the faces of porn stars with their social media profiles to "doxx" them, or reveal their true identities. This type of use "can create huge problems," said Garvie. "We have to consider the worst possible uses of the technology." Apple's system uses 30,000 infrared dots to create a digital image which is stored in a "secure enclave," according to a white paper issued by the company on its security. It said the chances of a "random" person being able to unlock the device are one in a million, compared with one in 50,000 for its TouchID. Apple's FaceID is likely to touch off fresh legal battles about whether police can require someone to unlock a device. FaceID "brings the company deeper into a legal debate" that stemmed from the introduction of fingerprint identification on smartphones, according to ACLU staff attorney Brett Max Kaufman. Kaufman says in a blog post that courts will be grappling with the constitutional guarantees against unreasonable searches and self-incrimination if a suspect is forced to unlock a device. US courts have generally ruled that it would violate a user's rights to give up a passcode because it is "testimonial" -- but that situation becomes murkier when biometrics are applied. Apple appears to have anticipated this situation by allowing a user to press two buttons for two seconds to require a passcode, but Garvie said court battles over compelling the use of FaceID are likely. Regardless of these concerns, Apple's introduction is likely to bring about widespread use of facial recognition technology. "What Apple is doing here will popularize and get people more comfortable with the technology," said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, who follows the sector. "If I look at Apple's track record of making things easy for consumers, I'm optimistic users are going to like this." Garvie added it is important to have conversations about facial recognition because there is little regulation governing the use of the technology. "The technology may well be inevitable," she said. "It is going to become part of everyone's lives if it isn't already."

New iPhone brings face recognition (and fears) to the masses

More than two years after releasing the Apple Watch, Apple has finally been able to replicate 1940s comic strip technology, an advance that analysts say will spur sales.

The Series 3 of the Apple Watch, released on Tuesday along with the much-anticipated iPhone X, features wireless LTE connectivity. That means customers will be able to make phone calls or send text messages from the watch without needing to have an iPhone nearby, as they do with earlier models.

The ability to make calls with a wristwatch has captured the imagination of tech enthusiasts at least since it was prominently featured in &quot;Dick Tracy,&quot; the comic about a private detective who, starting in 1946, used calls from his wrist to help bust bad guys.

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<h5>Now you can go for a run with just your watch and still be connected. It&#39;s really nice to know you can be reached if needed,&#39; Apple COO Jeff Williams said at the launch</h5>
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&quot;This has been our vision from the beginning,&quot; Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams said at the launch event.

&quot;Now you can go for a run with just your watch and still be connected. It&#39;s really nice to know you can be reached if needed.&quot;

To be sure, Samsung Electronics has sold smart watches with mobile data connectivity since 2014, but the first devices were bulky and suffered from poor battery life because the data connection consumed extra power. They also require a separate phone number.

Apple claims its new Series 3, on the other hand, will have up to 18 hours of battery life and is just a fraction of a millimeter thicker that its previous Series 2. And it will have the same phone number as a customer&#39;s iPhone, which will still be required for the initial set up of the watch.

Apple said that all four major US carriers will offer service for the watch, and AT&amp;T and T-Mobile US&nbsp;both said it would cost an extra $10 a month.

Analysts generally believe the new connectivity could ignite sales, though there is little consensus as to how much.

At $399, the new Watch is only slightly more expensive than the previous model, the $329 Series 2, which introduced standalone GPS capability. That $70 extra buys much more useful capabilities - including the ability to stream music from Apple Music.

&quot;The third time is the charm for the watch,&quot; said Bob O&#39;Donnell of Techanalysis Research.

What may hold some consumers back is the monthly recurring charge, which would far exceed the extra cost of the Series 3 over older watches over time, said Brian Blau, an Apple analyst with Gartner. &quot;Yes, you do have to pay for that extra data plan, but it sounds like the carriers are at least going to make it relatively easy to do,&quot; Blau said.

Apple does not say how many Apple Watches it sells. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi believes Apple will sell 12 million watches in its fiscal 2017 and 14 million to 15 million in fiscal 2018. Gene Munster with Loup Ventures predicted a much bigger bump, to 26 million units in 2018.

Either way, Apple is putting new pressure on smartwatch rivals such as Fitbit and Garmin, which would be hard-pressed from a technical and business standpoint to match Apple&#39;s wireless features.

But the new Apple Watch still requires an iPhone, which Fitbit believes leaves it ample market room to sell wearable devices that work with all phones, not just iPhones. &quot;With Android comprising approximately 80 per cent of the global smartphone market, broad compatibility remains a core differentiator for Fitbit,&quot; the company said in a statement to Reuters.

Garmin did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

The Watch will remain a blip in Apple&#39;s sales, which were $215 billion last year. But it may be taking its place as part of a family of products that Apple loyalists cannot do without - all by making a schoolboy fantasy from the 1940s into reality for the masses.

There will be no need to have an iPhone nearby, as was the case with earlier models

More than two years after releasing the Apple Watch, Apple has finally been able to replicate 1940s comic strip technology, an advance that analysts say will spur sales. The Series 3 of the Apple Watch, released on Tuesday along with the much-anticipated iPhone X, features wireless LTE connectivity. That means customers will be able to make phone calls or send text messages from the watch without needing to have an iPhone nearby, as they do with earlier models. The ability to make calls with a wristwatch has captured the imagination of tech enthusiasts at least since it was prominently featured in "Dick Tracy," the comic about a private detective who, starting in 1946, used calls from his wrist to help bust bad guys. Now you can go for a run with just your watch and still be connected. It's really nice to know you can be reached if needed,' Apple COO Jeff Williams said at the launch × "This has been our vision from the beginning," Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams said at the launch event. "Now you can go for a run with just your watch and still be connected. It's really nice to know you can be reached if needed." To be sure, Samsung Electronics has sold smart watches with mobile data connectivity since 2014, but the first devices were bulky and suffered from poor battery life because the data connection consumed extra power. They also require a separate phone number. Apple claims its new Series 3, on the other hand, will have up to 18 hours of battery life and is just a fraction of a millimeter thicker that its previous Series 2. And it will have the same phone number as a customer's iPhone, which will still be required for the initial set up of the watch. Apple said that all four major US carriers will offer service for the watch, and AT&T and T-Mobile US both said it would cost an extra $10 a month. Analysts generally believe the new connectivity could ignite sales, though there is little consensus as to how much. At $399, the new Watch is only slightly more expensive than the previous model, the $329 Series 2, which introduced standalone GPS capability. That $70 extra buys much more useful capabilities - including the ability to stream music from Apple Music. "The third time is the charm for the watch," said Bob O'Donnell of Techanalysis Research. What may hold some consumers back is the monthly recurring charge, which would far exceed the extra cost of the Series 3 over older watches over time, said Brian Blau, an Apple analyst with Gartner. "Yes, you do have to pay for that extra data plan, but it sounds like the carriers are at least going to make it relatively easy to do," Blau said. Apple does not say how many Apple Watches it sells. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi believes Apple will sell 12 million watches in its fiscal 2017 and 14 million to 15 million in fiscal 2018. Gene Munster with Loup Ventures predicted a much bigger bump, to 26 million units in 2018. Either way, Apple is putting new pressure on smartwatch rivals such as Fitbit and Garmin, which would be hard-pressed from a technical and business standpoint to match Apple's wireless features. But the new Apple Watch still requires an iPhone, which Fitbit believes leaves it ample market room to sell wearable devices that work with all phones, not just iPhones. "With Android comprising approximately 80 per cent of the global smartphone market, broad compatibility remains a core differentiator for Fitbit," the company said in a statement to Reuters. Garmin did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours. The Watch will remain a blip in Apple's sales, which were $215 billion last year. But it may be taking its place as part of a family of products that Apple loyalists cannot do without - all by making a schoolboy fantasy from the 1940s into reality for the masses.

Now make calls and send text messages from new Apple watch

The internet is going gaga before the new iPhone release.&nbsp;iPhone will be releasing the much awaited new model in its series on Tuesday in the US.&nbsp;

Major features of the new phone including its anticipated name are flooding&nbsp;the internet.&nbsp;

The new launch is believed to revolutionise the iPhone series. The company will be marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of new model iPhone 8.&nbsp;

The anticipated name of the new model is said to&nbsp;be called iPhone X.

The handset is designed with promising features that include wireless charging, facial recognition, and edge to edge display. Also for the first time ever an Apple phone will be launched with no home button.&nbsp;

A report speculates that the new phone will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will hit stores by September 22.&nbsp;

The company will be releasing three phones in the event.

Besides iPhone X, Apple will also introduce two other phones called iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Reports also indicate that Apple may gift its users<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apples-third-generation-watch-soon-to-hit-the-market-19168"> Apple Watch </a>and 4K Apple TV.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-homepad-to-hit-the-markets-soon-19111" target="_blank">Also&nbsp;Read: &nbsp;Apple HomePod set to be launched in December</a>

iPhone X will be Apple&#39;s most expensive handset to date. According to a report in The Telegraph, one of the executives at Apple manufacturer Foxconn has clarified that the high-end device will &quot;not be cheap&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/how-apple-disrupted-the-world-16525" target="_blank">Also Read: How Apple &#39;disrupted&#39; the world</a>

The phone might cost $1,000 in the US which makes it 54 per cent more expensive than the current iPhone 7.

The new model is expected in three colours, White, Black and Copper or Gold.&nbsp;

The handset is hoped to come with a bigger screen size of about 5.8-inch edge to edge OLED display.&nbsp;However, Apple may not increase the actual size of the footprint.&nbsp;

The handset may also introduce a different back replacing the usual aluminium screen.

The new model may completely remove the original iPhone home button. In its previous launch, Apple had adorned iPhone 7 with a solid state home button which operated not with a click but vibrations.&nbsp;Apple has also introduced advanced pressure detection technology with 3D Touch. Also, the phone screen&#39;s lights up as soon as it is picked up. The new model may get further up gradation.&nbsp;

Reports also indicate that the new iPhone may be launched with an infrared scanner replacing its Touch ID fingerprint scanner and home button. The feature will unlock the phone using facial recognition software.&nbsp;

The leaked images have also hinted on a 3D camera.&nbsp;

Previous leaks have hinted on new developments in Apple&#39;s camera technology. The &quot;SmartCam&quot; is said to differentiate between different scenes and objects.&nbsp;

Rumours hint that Apple may offer wireless charging as an optional extra.

The new handset will be released by Apple CEO Tim Cook at an event in California.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apples-iphone-turns-10-bumpy-start-forgotten-17403" target="_blank">Also </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apples-iphone-turns-10-bumpy-start-forgotten-17403" target="_blank">Read:</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apples-iphone-turns-10-bumpy-start-forgotten-17403" target="_blank"> 10 years of Apple iPhone: Bumpy start forgotten</a>

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The new launch is believed to revolutionise the iPhone series. The company will be marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of new model iPhone 8

The internet is going gaga before the new iPhone release. iPhone will be releasing the much awaited new model in its series on Tuesday in the US. Major features of the new phone including its anticipated name are flooding the internet. The new launch is believed to revolutionise the iPhone series. The company will be marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of new model iPhone 8. The anticipated name of the new model is said to be called iPhone X. The handset is designed with promising features that include wireless charging, facial recognition, and edge to edge display. Also for the first time ever an Apple phone will be launched with no home button. A report speculates that the new phone will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will hit stores by September 22. The company will be releasing three phones in the event. Besides iPhone X, Apple will also introduce two other phones called iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Reports also indicate that Apple may gift its users Apple Watch and 4K Apple TV. Also Read: Apple HomePod set to be launched in December iPhone X will be Apple's most expensive handset to date. According to a report in The Telegraph, one of the executives at Apple manufacturer Foxconn has clarified that the high-end device will "not be cheap". Also Read: How Apple 'disrupted' the world The phone might cost $1,000 in the US which makes it 54 per cent more expensive than the current iPhone 7. The new model is expected in three colours, White, Black and Copper or Gold. The handset is hoped to come with a bigger screen size of about 5.8-inch edge to edge OLED display. However, Apple may not increase the actual size of the footprint. The handset may also introduce a different back replacing the usual aluminium screen. The new model may completely remove the original iPhone home button. In its previous launch, Apple had adorned iPhone 7 with a solid state home button which operated not with a click but vibrations. Apple has also introduced advanced pressure detection technology with 3D Touch. Also, the phone screen's lights up as soon as it is picked up. The new model may get further up gradation. Reports also indicate that the new iPhone may be launched with an infrared scanner replacing its Touch ID fingerprint scanner and home button. The feature will unlock the phone using facial recognition software. The leaked images have also hinted on a 3D camera. Previous leaks have hinted on new developments in Apple's camera technology. The "SmartCam" is said to differentiate between different scenes and objects. Rumours hint that Apple may offer wireless charging as an optional extra. The new handset will be released by Apple CEO Tim Cook at an event in California. Also Read: 10 years of Apple iPhone: Bumpy start forgotten

Tenth-anniversary Apple iPhone to release today in US

Even as the world awaits the launch of iPhone part-10, one man is on everyone&#39;s mind&nbsp;- Steve Jobs.

Ten years ago <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/how-apple-disrupted-the-world-16525">Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had introduced the first ever iPhone and the universe shifted</a>.&nbsp;

Since then the company has launched ten models under its&nbsp;flagship despite Steve not being there to showcase his beloved iPhone.&nbsp;

Apple iPhones have now become one of the most profitable products in history.&nbsp;

However, the Apple iPhone which marked the beginning of the smartphone age&nbsp;had a&nbsp;sluggish sale&nbsp;with its first launch.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tenth-anniversary-apple-iphone-to-release-today-in-us-20092" target="_blank">Also&nbsp;Read: Tenth-anniversary Apple iPhone to release today in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tenth-anniversary-apple-iphone-to-release-today-in-us-20092" target="_blank">the US</a>

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apples-iphone-turns-10-bumpy-start-forgotten-17403">initial model experienced a rocky start</a> because of its restriction to AT&amp;T as it was without an app store.&nbsp;

iPhone&nbsp;sales began escalating with the launch of iPhone 3G in 2008 after Apple introduced app store with its second model.&nbsp;

Even with a high price and huge competition from its rivals, Apple has sold over 1 billion iPhone units in the past decade.&nbsp;

How Apple revolutionised&nbsp;the world

With the release of Apple iPhone, there has been a breakthrough in Internet communication which was boosted by iOS and Android apps, photos and videos.&nbsp;

The iPhone also gifted DSLR to the mobile generation.&nbsp;

The iPhone app store has transformed phones into everything from a bank to a motion sensitive video game device.&nbsp;

Above all, iPhone has established the struggling Apple company into an elite brand.&nbsp;The phone has led to a massive growth in Apple&#39;s business as iPhones have come to dominate the world market.&nbsp;

In 2006 the company made&nbsp;$1.9 billion profit from the sale&nbsp;of iPod and Mac. After a decade, profits have skyrocketed to $45.6 billion.

Apple was launched when the market was largely dominated by BlackBerry and Microsoft devices.

iPhone has completely changed the market dynamics.

It disrupted the leading mobile companies with only Google&#39;s Android phones standing in its way.

 
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The initial model experienced a rocky start because of its restriction to AT&T as it was without an app store

Even as the world awaits the launch of iPhone part-10, one man is on everyone's mind - Steve Jobs. Ten years ago Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had introduced the first ever iPhone and the universe shifted. Since then the company has launched ten models under its flagship despite Steve not being there to showcase his beloved iPhone. Apple iPhones have now become one of the most profitable products in history. However, the Apple iPhone which marked the beginning of the smartphone age had a sluggish sale with its first launch. Also Read: Tenth-anniversary Apple iPhone to release today in the US The initial model experienced a rocky start because of its restriction to AT&T as it was without an app store. iPhone sales began escalating with the launch of iPhone 3G in 2008 after Apple introduced app store with its second model. Even with a high price and huge competition from its rivals, Apple has sold over 1 billion iPhone units in the past decade. How Apple revolutionised the world With the release of Apple iPhone, there has been a breakthrough in Internet communication which was boosted by iOS and Android apps, photos and videos. The iPhone also gifted DSLR to the mobile generation. The iPhone app store has transformed phones into everything from a bank to a motion sensitive video game device. Above all, iPhone has established the struggling Apple company into an elite brand. The phone has led to a massive growth in Apple's business as iPhones have come to dominate the world market. In 2006 the company made $1.9 billion profit from the sale of iPod and Mac. After a decade, profits have skyrocketed to $45.6 billion. Apple was launched when the market was largely dominated by BlackBerry and Microsoft devices. iPhone has completely changed the market dynamics. It disrupted the leading mobile companies with only Google's Android phones standing in its way.

How Steve Job's iPhone changed the world

The highly anticipated <a href="http://www.wionews.com/life-fun/japanese-iphone-app-maker-is-82-years-old-18675">iPhone</a> 8 will be launched by Apple on September 12 at an event to be held at Apple&#39;s new headquarters in California.

With the much awaited iPhone, the company is also expected to update its users about the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apples-third-generation-watch-soon-to-hit-the-market-19168">Apple Watch</a>, Apple TV, and iOS software.

The American multinational company is expected to announce three new iPhones at the annual event.&nbsp;

The new edition <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/a-month-before-its-launch-iphone-8-details-leaks-again-18750">Apple iPhone 8</a> will coincide the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apples-iphone-turns-10-bumpy-start-forgotten-17403"> tenth anniversary of the Apple iPhone</a>.&nbsp;

Apple iPhone 8 will come with an enhanced and improved image quality. The dual lens rear camera will certainly give a new level to the already existing Portrait Mode creating DSLR pictures for its users.&nbsp;

Apple 8 which is expected to be launched with the latest operating system will come pre loaded with upgrades such as Siri, Maps and Apple&#39;s camera.

The OS 11, High-Efficiency Image File Format will reduce the amount of space used by photographs by reducing the size of each photo.&nbsp;

Apple Pay will allow users to transfer money with a single tap.&nbsp;

Recently<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-homepad-to-hit-the-markets-soon-19111"> Apple</a> had sent out invites for its next big event.

This will be the first ever event to be held at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino.&nbsp;

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With the much awaited iPhone, the company is also expected to update its users about the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iOS software

The highly anticipated iPhone 8 will be launched by Apple on September 12 at an event to be held at Apple's new headquarters in California. With the much awaited iPhone, the company is also expected to update its users about the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iOS software. The American multinational company is expected to announce three new iPhones at the annual event. The new edition Apple iPhone 8 will coincide the tenth anniversary of the Apple iPhone. Apple iPhone 8 will come with an enhanced and improved image quality. The dual lens rear camera will certainly give a new level to the already existing Portrait Mode creating DSLR pictures for its users. Apple 8 which is expected to be launched with the latest operating system will come pre loaded with upgrades such as Siri, Maps and Apple's camera. The OS 11, High-Efficiency Image File Format will reduce the amount of space used by photographs by reducing the size of each photo. Apple Pay will allow users to transfer money with a single tap. Recently Apple had sent out invites for its next big event. This will be the first ever event to be held at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino.

Apple to launch three new iPhones on September 12

Alphabet&#39;s Google on Wednesday unveiled tools to make augmented reality apps for mobile devices using the Android operating system, setting up its latest showdown with Apple&nbsp;iPhone over next-generation smartphone features.

Phone-based augmented reality (AR), in which digital objects are superimposed onto the real world on screen, got a huge boost from the popularity of the Pok&eacute;mon Go game. The game, launched in the United States in July last year, sent players into city streets, offices, parks and restaurants to search for colourful animated characters.

Analysts expected the game to make $3 billion for Apple over two years as gamers buy &quot;Pok&eacute;Coins&quot; from its app store.

Google&#39;s take on the technology will first be available on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Google&#39;s own Pixel phone. The company said in a blog post that it hoped to make the system, called ARCore, available to at least 100 million users, but did not set a date for a broad release.

Apple in June announced a similar system called ARKit that it plans to release this fall on &quot;hundreds of millions&quot; of devices.

Google and Apple will jockey for the attention of customers and software developers who will build the games, walking guides and other applications that would make AR a compelling feature.

Many tech industry leaders envision a future in which eyeglasses, car windshields, and other surfaces can overlay digital information on the real world. Google and Microsoft&nbsp;have already experimented with AR glasses.

&quot;AR is big and profound,&quot; Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook told investors earlier in August. &quot;And this is one of those huge things that we&#39;ll look back at and marvel on the start of it.&quot;

Apple and Google have had to make compromises to bring the technology to market.

In Apple&#39;s case, the Cupertino, California-based company decided to make its AR system work with devices capable of running iOS 11, its next-generation operating system due out this fall.

This means it will work on phones going back to the iPhone 6s, which have a single camera at the back and standard motion sensors, rather than a dual camera system found on newer models such as the iPhone 7 Plus or special depth-sensing chips in competing phones. That limits the range of images that can be displayed.

Google initially aimed to solve this problem with an AR system called Tango that uses a special depth-sensor, but only two phone makers so far support it. With ARCore, Google changed course to work on phones without depth sensors.

But the fragmentation of the Android ecosystem presents challenges. To spread its AR system beyond the Galaxy S8 and Pixel phone, Google will have to figure out how to account for the wide variety of Android phone cameras or require phone makers to use specific parts.

Apple, however, is able to make its system work well because it knows exactly which hardware and software are on the iPhone and calibrates them tightly.

Michael Valdsgaard, a developer with the furniture chain IKEA, called the system &quot;rock solid,&quot; noting that it could estimate the size of virtual furniture placed in a room with 98 per cent accuracy, despite lacking special sensors.

&quot;This is a classic example of where Apple&#39;s ownership of the whole widget including both hardware and software is a huge advantage over device vendors dependent on Android and the broader value chain of component vendors,&quot; said Jan Dawson, founder and chief analyst of Jackdaw Research.

Alphabet's Google on Wednesday unveiled tools to make augmented reality apps for mobile devices using the Android operating system, setting up its latest showdown with Apple?iPhone over next-generation smartphone features

Alphabet's Google on Wednesday unveiled tools to make augmented reality apps for mobile devices using the Android operating system, setting up its latest showdown with Apple iPhone over next-generation smartphone features. Phone-based augmented reality (AR), in which digital objects are superimposed onto the real world on screen, got a huge boost from the popularity of the Pokémon Go game. The game, launched in the United States in July last year, sent players into city streets, offices, parks and restaurants to search for colourful animated characters. Analysts expected the game to make $3 billion for Apple over two years as gamers buy "PokéCoins" from its app store. Google's take on the technology will first be available on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Google's own Pixel phone. The company said in a blog post that it hoped to make the system, called ARCore, available to at least 100 million users, but did not set a date for a broad release. Apple in June announced a similar system called ARKit that it plans to release this fall on "hundreds of millions" of devices. Google and Apple will jockey for the attention of customers and software developers who will build the games, walking guides and other applications that would make AR a compelling feature. Many tech industry leaders envision a future in which eyeglasses, car windshields, and other surfaces can overlay digital information on the real world. Google and Microsoft have already experimented with AR glasses. "AR is big and profound," Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook told investors earlier in August. "And this is one of those huge things that we'll look back at and marvel on the start of it." Apple and Google have had to make compromises to bring the technology to market. In Apple's case, the Cupertino, California-based company decided to make its AR system work with devices capable of running iOS 11, its next-generation operating system due out this fall. This means it will work on phones going back to the iPhone 6s, which have a single camera at the back and standard motion sensors, rather than a dual camera system found on newer models such as the iPhone 7 Plus or special depth-sensing chips in competing phones. That limits the range of images that can be displayed. Google initially aimed to solve this problem with an AR system called Tango that uses a special depth-sensor, but only two phone makers so far support it. With ARCore, Google changed course to work on phones without depth sensors. But the fragmentation of the Android ecosystem presents challenges. To spread its AR system beyond the Galaxy S8 and Pixel phone, Google will have to figure out how to account for the wide variety of Android phone cameras or require phone makers to use specific parts. Apple, however, is able to make its system work well because it knows exactly which hardware and software are on the iPhone and calibrates them tightly. Michael Valdsgaard, a developer with the furniture chain IKEA, called the system "rock solid," noting that it could estimate the size of virtual furniture placed in a room with 98 per cent accuracy, despite lacking special sensors. "This is a classic example of where Apple's ownership of the whole widget including both hardware and software is a huge advantage over device vendors dependent on Android and the broader value chain of component vendors," said Jan Dawson, founder and chief analyst of Jackdaw Research.

Google, Apple face off over augmented reality technology

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apple-shares-sail-to-record-high-on-healthy-iphone-sales-18496">After setting the mobile space on fire</a>, Apple is now expanding its services to Apple speakers.

Tech analysts say the speaker priced at $349 is set to be launched in December.&nbsp;

The acoustic modeling and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/wwdc-2017-apple-set-to-make-siri-work-with-a-larger-variety-of-apps-16442">Siri&#39;s optimized version will make the &quot;Homepod&quot;</a>&nbsp;an all-in-one entertainment. The speaker will be powered by Apple&#39;s A8 chip.&nbsp;

The Siri operated HomePod not only plays music but will also help in assisting and controlling household tasks and smart home accessories.&nbsp;

Just say &ldquo;Hey Siri, turn on the lights&rdquo; or &ldquo;cool the room&rdquo; or &ldquo;lower the shades.&rdquo;

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<h5>Just say &ldquo;Hey Siri, turn on the lights&rdquo; or &ldquo;cool the room&rdquo; or &ldquo;lower the shades.&rdquo; A wide range of accessories work with Apple&rsquo;s HomeKit platform &mdash; from air conditioners to garage doors to security cameras. Just add an accessory to the Home app, then control it with your voice on HomePod, the company website said.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just say ?Hey Siri, turn on the lights? or ?cool the room? or ?lower the shades.? A wide range of accessories work with Apple?s HomeKit platform ? from air conditioners to garage doors to security cameras. Just add an accessory to the Home app, then control it with your voice on HomePod, the company website said." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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A wide range of accessories work with Apple&rsquo;s HomeKit platform &mdash; from air conditioners to garage doors to security cameras. Just add an accessory to the Home app, then control it with your voice on HomePod, the company said on its&nbsp;website.

Apple will first launch the limited edition with&nbsp;only around 500,000 units in the US, UK, and Australia.

The tech giant will be manufacturing the speaker in collaboration with Taiwanese firm Inventec. Also, expectations are that Foxconn may join the partnership in 2018.&nbsp;

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Apple will be launching Apple "Homepod" in December 2017

After setting the mobile space on fire, Apple is now expanding its services to Apple speakers. Tech analysts say the speaker priced at $349 is set to be launched in December. The acoustic modeling and Siri's optimized version will make the "Homepod" an all-in-one entertainment. The speaker will be powered by Apple's A8 chip. The Siri operated HomePod not only plays music but will also help in assisting and controlling household tasks and smart home accessories. Just say “Hey Siri, turn on the lights” or “cool the room” or “lower the shades.” Just say “Hey Siri, turn on the lights” or “cool the room” or “lower the shades.” A wide range of accessories work with Apple’s HomeKit platform — from air conditioners to garage doors to security cameras. Just add an accessory to the Home app, then control it with your voice on HomePod, the company website said. × A wide range of accessories work with Apple’s HomeKit platform — from air conditioners to garage doors to security cameras. Just add an accessory to the Home app, then control it with your voice on HomePod, the company said on its website. Apple will first launch the limited edition with only around 500,000 units in the US, UK, and Australia. The tech giant will be manufacturing the speaker in collaboration with Taiwanese firm Inventec. Also, expectations are that Foxconn may join the partnership in 2018.

Apple HomePod set to be launched in December

&nbsp;Apple&#39;s new phones - iPhone 8 and iPhone 7s&nbsp;are expected to enter the market&nbsp;next month. However, just before the launch, a report detailing the handsets internal design and novel features have already been leaked.&nbsp;

According to reports,&nbsp;the new image shows an iPhone surrounded by a protective cover with a spirit-level-like green element on its&nbsp;side.&nbsp;

The leak clearly shows the vertical dual camera setup, smaller printed circuit board, &nbsp;L-shaped battery, and the wireless charging coil. With enhanced resolution display the handset will have a smaller body than iPhone 7.&nbsp;

The 10th anniversary Apple smartphone, iPhone 8, is designed with an infrared face unlock system that will work in the dark.

This is not the first time when iPhone details have come out. However, the latest leak was&nbsp;revealed by a reliable mobile reporter Evan Blass aka @evleaks.

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iPhone 8 (encased) <a href="https://t.co/9LpARCAML2">pic.twitter.com/9LpARCAML2</a>
&mdash; Evan Blass (@evleaks) <a href="https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/894745764244578304">August 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Though the phone is set to release in September, few reports suggest&nbsp;that it will not be available in the market because of limited quantity availability.

Analyst Timothy Arcuri from Cowen and Company claims that production might be delayed due to issues with its Touch IS sensor. Also, a report from Business Insider quotes a research by Deutsche Bank which claims that the phone will not be available until 2018 due to supply chain issues and technical challenges.

Apple is expected to price iPhone 8 between $1,100 to $1,200, Forbes reported.

The new image shows an iPhone surrounded by a protective cover with a spirit-level-like green element on its?side

Apple's new phones - iPhone 8 and iPhone 7s are expected to enter the market next month. However, just before the launch, a report detailing the handsets internal design and novel features have already been leaked. According to reports, the new image shows an iPhone surrounded by a protective cover with a spirit-level-like green element on its side. The leak clearly shows the vertical dual camera setup, smaller printed circuit board, L-shaped battery, and the wireless charging coil. With enhanced resolution display the handset will have a smaller body than iPhone 7. The 10th anniversary Apple smartphone, iPhone 8, is designed with an infrared face unlock system that will work in the dark. This is not the first time when iPhone details have come out. However, the latest leak was revealed by a reliable mobile reporter Evan Blass aka @evleaks. iPhone 8 (encased) pic.twitter.com/9LpARCAML2 — Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 8, 2017 × Though the phone is set to release in September, few reports suggest that it will not be available in the market because of limited quantity availability. Analyst Timothy Arcuri from Cowen and Company claims that production might be delayed due to issues with its Touch IS sensor. Also, a report from Business Insider quotes a research by Deutsche Bank which claims that the phone will not be available until 2018 due to supply chain issues and technical challenges. Apple is expected to price iPhone 8 between $1,100 to $1,200, Forbes reported.

iPhone 8 details leaked: Report

South Korea&#39;s&nbsp;LG&nbsp;Chem is slated to exclusively provide batteries for Apple&#39;s iPhone 9 which is likely to be launched next year, a Korean newspaper reported.

LG&nbsp;Chem has invested hundreds of billions of won in a dedicated line for the purpose and will produce &quot;L-shaped&quot; batteries for next year&#39;s iPhone, the Korea Economic Daily reported citing an unnamed chemical industry source.

A spokesman for&nbsp;LG&nbsp;Chem said it does not respond to inquiries about client companies. Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.

&nbsp;

LG Chem has invested hundreds of billions of won in a dedicated line for the purpose and will produce 'L-shaped' batteries for next year's iPhone

South Korea's LG Chem is slated to exclusively provide batteries for Apple's iPhone 9 which is likely to be launched next year, a Korean newspaper reported. LG Chem has invested hundreds of billions of won in a dedicated line for the purpose and will produce "L-shaped" batteries for next year's iPhone, the Korea Economic Daily reported citing an unnamed chemical industry source. A spokesman for LG Chem said it does not respond to inquiries about client companies. Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.

LG Chem to provide Apple's iPhone batteries next year: Korean Media reports

Apple iPhone turns 10 this week, evoking memories of a rocky start for the device that ended up doing most to start the smartphone revolution and stirring interest in where it will go from here.

Apple has sold more than 1 billion iPhones since June 29, 2007, but the first iPhone which was launched without an App Store and was restricted to the AT&amp;T was limited compared to today&#39;s version.

After sluggish initial sales, Apple slashed the price to spur holiday sales that year.

&quot;The business model for year one of the iPhone was a disaster,&quot; Tony Fadell, one of the Apple developers of the device said. &quot;We pivoted and figured it out in year two.&quot;

The very concept of the iPhone came as a surprise to some of Apple&#39;s suppliers a decade ago, even though Apple, led by CEO Steve Jobs, had already expanded beyond computers with the iPod.

&quot;We still have the voicemail from Steve Jobs when he called the CEO and founder here,&quot; said David Bairstow at Skyhook, the company that supplied location technology to early iPhones. &quot;He thought he was being pranked by someone in the office and it took him two days to call Steve Jobs back.&quot;

The iPhone hit its stride in 2008 when Apple introduced the App Store, which allowed developers to make and distribute their mobile applications with Apple taking a cut of any revenue.

Ten years later, services revenue is a crucial area of growth for Apple, bringing in $24.3 billion in revenue last year.

New model

Fans and investors are now looking forward to the 10th anniversary iPhone 8, expected this fall, asking whether it will deliver enough new features to spark a new generation to turn to Apple.

That new phone may have 3-D mapping sensors, support for &quot;augmented reality&quot; apps that would merge virtual and real worlds, and a new display with organic LEDs, which are light and flexible, according to analysts at Bernstein Research.

A decade after launching into a market largely occupied by BlackBerry and Microsoft devices, the iPhone now competes chiefly with phones running Google&#39;s Android software, which is distributed to Samsung Electronics and other manufacturers around the world.

Even though most of the world&#39;s smartphones now run on Android, Apple still garners most of the profit in the industry with its generally higher-priced devices.

More than 2 billion people now have smartphones, according to data from eMarketer, and Fadell, who has worked for both Apple and Alphabet, sees that as the hallmark of success.

&quot;Being able to democratise computing and communication across the entire world is absolutely astounding to me,&quot; Fadell said. &quot;It warms my heart because that&#39;s something Steve tried to do with the Apple II and the Mac, which was the computer for the rest of us. It&#39;s finally here, 30 years later.&quot;

Apple has sold more than 1 billion iPhones since June 29, 2007, but the first iPhone was restricted to the AT&T and was limited compared to today's version

Apple iPhone turns 10 this week, evoking memories of a rocky start for the device that ended up doing most to start the smartphone revolution and stirring interest in where it will go from here. Apple has sold more than 1 billion iPhones since June 29, 2007, but the first iPhone which was launched without an App Store and was restricted to the AT&T was limited compared to today's version. After sluggish initial sales, Apple slashed the price to spur holiday sales that year. "The business model for year one of the iPhone was a disaster," Tony Fadell, one of the Apple developers of the device said. "We pivoted and figured it out in year two." The very concept of the iPhone came as a surprise to some of Apple's suppliers a decade ago, even though Apple, led by CEO Steve Jobs, had already expanded beyond computers with the iPod. "We still have the voicemail from Steve Jobs when he called the CEO and founder here," said David Bairstow at Skyhook, the company that supplied location technology to early iPhones. "He thought he was being pranked by someone in the office and it took him two days to call Steve Jobs back." The iPhone hit its stride in 2008 when Apple introduced the App Store, which allowed developers to make and distribute their mobile applications with Apple taking a cut of any revenue. Ten years later, services revenue is a crucial area of growth for Apple, bringing in $24.3 billion in revenue last year. New model Fans and investors are now looking forward to the 10th anniversary iPhone 8, expected this fall, asking whether it will deliver enough new features to spark a new generation to turn to Apple. That new phone may have 3-D mapping sensors, support for "augmented reality" apps that would merge virtual and real worlds, and a new display with organic LEDs, which are light and flexible, according to analysts at Bernstein Research. A decade after launching into a market largely occupied by BlackBerry and Microsoft devices, the iPhone now competes chiefly with phones running Google's Android software, which is distributed to Samsung Electronics and other manufacturers around the world. Even though most of the world's smartphones now run on Android, Apple still garners most of the profit in the industry with its generally higher-priced devices. More than 2 billion people now have smartphones, according to data from eMarketer, and Fadell, who has worked for both Apple and Alphabet, sees that as the hallmark of success. "Being able to democratise computing and communication across the entire world is absolutely astounding to me," Fadell said. "It warms my heart because that's something Steve tried to do with the Apple II and the Mac, which was the computer for the rest of us. It's finally here, 30 years later."

10 years of Apple iPhone: Bumpy start forgotten

When Apple launches its much-anticipated 10th anniversary iPhone this fall, it will offer an unwitting lesson in how much the smartphone industry it pioneered has matured.

The new iPhone is expected to include new features such as high-resolution displays, wireless charging and 3D sensors. Rather than representing major breakthroughs, however, most of the innovations have been available in competing phones for several years.

Apple&#39;s relatively slow adoption of new features both reflects and reinforces the fact smartphone customers are holding onto their phones longer. Timothy Arcuri, an analyst at Cowen &amp; Co, believes upwards of 40 per cent of iPhones on the market are more than two years old, a historical high.

That is a big reason why investors have driven Apple shares to an all-time high. There is pent-up demand for a new iPhone, even if it does not offer breakthrough technologies.

It is not clear whether Apple deliberately held off on packing some of the new features into the current iPhone 7, which has been criticised for a lack of differentiation from its predecessor. Apple declined to comment on the upcoming product.

Still, the development and roll-out of the anniversary iPhone suggest Apple&rsquo;s product strategy is driven less by technological innovation than by consumer upgrade cycles and Apple&rsquo;s own business and marketing needs.

&quot;When a market gets saturated, the growth is all about refresh,&quot; said Bob O&rsquo;Donnell of Technalysis Research. &quot;This is exactly what happened to PCs. It&#39;s exactly what happened to tablets. It&#39;s starting to happen to smartphones.&quot;

Apple is close-mouthed about upcoming product features, but analysts and reports from Asian component suppliers and others indicate that high-resolution displays based on OLED technology - possibly with curved edges - are likely to be part of the anniversary phone. A radical new design is not expected, according to analysts.

Some of the anticipated new technologies, notably wireless charging, remain messy. Samsung Electronics phones, for example, feature wireless charging but support two different sets of standards, one called Qi and the other AirFuel.

Apple recently joined the group backing Qi. But there are still at least five different groups working on wireless charging technology within Apple, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

As to 3D sensors, there is already one hiding in the iPhone 7. The front camera features what is known as a time-of-flight sensor, which helps it autofocus and is used in numerous phones including the Blackberry, according to TechInsights, a firm that examines the chips inside tech devices.

That sensor could be upgraded to a higher-resolution version that could handle 3-D mapping for facial recognition, said Jim Morrison, vice president at TechInsights.

Some analysts also speculate the company could remove the phone&#39;s home button, placing it and a fingerprint sensor beneath the front display glass, based on patents the company has filed.

&nbsp;

Slow growth

Global smartphone sales were up only 2.3 per cent to 1.47 billion units in 2016, according to IDC. Many carriers in the United States have stopped subsidising phones, causing phone buyers to think harder about their next purchase.

Apple will likely make a heavy marketing push around the phone&rsquo;s 10th anniversary. &ldquo;IPhone set the standard for mobile computing in its first decade and we are just getting started. The best is yet to come,&rdquo; Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in a statement January 8, the date the iPhone was announced by then-CEO Steve Jobs in 2007.

In 2015, the last year it disclosed the figure, Apple spent $1.8 billion on advertising, up 50 per cent from the year before and nearly four times the $467 million it spent in 2007 when it first released the iPhone.

And the company continues to excel at selling higher-priced phones. Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri attributed the most recent quarter&#39;s record-setting 78.3 million iPhones sold to the iPhone 7 Plus, which for the first time included a new dual camera feature not found in other models.

The iPhone 7 Plus tops out at $969 with memory upgrades and a jet black finish. O&#39;Donnell of Technalysis Research believes that with the next iPhone, Apple might even introduce a $1,000-plus &ldquo;ultra-premium device for the real Apple-crazed folks out there who want to stand out.&quot;

(Reuters)

Some analysts speculate that Apple could remove the phone's home button in the new iPhone

When Apple launches its much-anticipated 10th anniversary iPhone this fall, it will offer an unwitting lesson in how much the smartphone industry it pioneered has matured. The new iPhone is expected to include new features such as high-resolution displays, wireless charging and 3D sensors. Rather than representing major breakthroughs, however, most of the innovations have been available in competing phones for several years. Apple's relatively slow adoption of new features both reflects and reinforces the fact smartphone customers are holding onto their phones longer. Timothy Arcuri, an analyst at Cowen & Co, believes upwards of 40 per cent of iPhones on the market are more than two years old, a historical high. That is a big reason why investors have driven Apple shares to an all-time high. There is pent-up demand for a new iPhone, even if it does not offer breakthrough technologies. It is not clear whether Apple deliberately held off on packing some of the new features into the current iPhone 7, which has been criticised for a lack of differentiation from its predecessor. Apple declined to comment on the upcoming product. Still, the development and roll-out of the anniversary iPhone suggest Apple’s product strategy is driven less by technological innovation than by consumer upgrade cycles and Apple’s own business and marketing needs. "When a market gets saturated, the growth is all about refresh," said Bob O’Donnell of Technalysis Research. "This is exactly what happened to PCs. It's exactly what happened to tablets. It's starting to happen to smartphones." Apple is close-mouthed about upcoming product features, but analysts and reports from Asian component suppliers and others indicate that high-resolution displays based on OLED technology - possibly with curved edges - are likely to be part of the anniversary phone. A radical new design is not expected, according to analysts. Some of the anticipated new technologies, notably wireless charging, remain messy. Samsung Electronics phones, for example, feature wireless charging but support two different sets of standards, one called Qi and the other AirFuel. Apple recently joined the group backing Qi. But there are still at least five different groups working on wireless charging technology within Apple, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. As to 3D sensors, there is already one hiding in the iPhone 7. The front camera features what is known as a time-of-flight sensor, which helps it autofocus and is used in numerous phones including the Blackberry, according to TechInsights, a firm that examines the chips inside tech devices. That sensor could be upgraded to a higher-resolution version that could handle 3-D mapping for facial recognition, said Jim Morrison, vice president at TechInsights. Some analysts also speculate the company could remove the phone's home button, placing it and a fingerprint sensor beneath the front display glass, based on patents the company has filed. Slow growth Global smartphone sales were up only 2.3 per cent to 1.47 billion units in 2016, according to IDC. Many carriers in the United States have stopped subsidising phones, causing phone buyers to think harder about their next purchase. Apple will likely make a heavy marketing push around the phone’s 10th anniversary. “IPhone set the standard for mobile computing in its first decade and we are just getting started. The best is yet to come,” Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in a statement January 8, the date the iPhone was announced by then-CEO Steve Jobs in 2007. In 2015, the last year it disclosed the figure, Apple spent $1.8 billion on advertising, up 50 per cent from the year before and nearly four times the $467 million it spent in 2007 when it first released the iPhone. And the company continues to excel at selling higher-priced phones. Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri attributed the most recent quarter's record-setting 78.3 million iPhones sold to the iPhone 7 Plus, which for the first time included a new dual camera feature not found in other models. The iPhone 7 Plus tops out at $969 with memory upgrades and a jet black finish. O'Donnell of Technalysis Research believes that with the next iPhone, Apple might even introduce a $1,000-plus “ultra-premium device for the real Apple-crazed folks out there who want to stand out." (Reuters)

Why the new Apple iPhone may not come with breakthrough features - yet again

The United States&nbsp;Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Samsung&nbsp;in its big-money smartphone patent fight with Apple, throwing out an appeals court ruling that the South Korean company had to pay a $399 million penalty to its American rival for copying key iPhone designs.

The 8-0 ruling, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, held that a patent violator does not always have to fork over its entire profits from the sales of products using stolen designs, if the designs covered only certain components and not the whole thing.

The justices sent the case back to the US&nbsp;Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington to determine how much Samsung must pay. But they did not provide a road map to juries and lower courts on how to navigate similar disputes in the future.

Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock said in a statement that the US company remained &quot;optimistic that the lower courts will again send a powerful signal that stealing isn&#39;t right.&quot;

Samsung told Reuters in a statement the ruling was a &quot;victory for Samsung and for all those who promote creativity, innovation and fair competition in the marketplace.&quot;

Following a 2012 jury verdict favouring Apple, Samsung initially was hit with nearly $930 million in penalties, later cut by $382 million, for infringing Apple&#39;s iPhone patents and mimicking its distinctive appearance in making the Galaxy and other competing devices.

Samsung in December 2015 paid its Cupertino, California-based rival $548 million. But Samsung took the matter to the Supreme Court, saying it should not have had to make $399 million of that payout for copying the patented designs of the iPhone&#39;s rounded-corner front face, bezel and colourful grid of icons that represent programs and applications.

With the products that used iPhone designs, Samsung went on to become the world&#39;s top smartphone maker.

Tuesday&#39;s ruling followed a ferocious legal battle between the world&#39;s top two smartphone manufacturers that began in 2011 when Apple sued Samsung for patent and trademark infringement. It was one of the most closely watched patent cases to come before the top US&nbsp;court in recent years.

The legal dispute centred on whether the term &quot;article of manufacture,&quot; on which design patent damages are calculated in U.S. patent law, should be interpreted as a finished product in its entirety, or merely a component in a complex product.

In court papers, Samsung, Apple and the US&nbsp;government all agreed that the term could mean a component.

But Apple urged the Supreme Court to affirm the appeals court&#39;s ruling because Samsung presented no evidence that the article of manufacture in this case was anything less than its entire smartphone as sold. Samsung, meanwhile, said that it did not have to present such evidence.

Sotomayor, writing for the unanimous court, said that the law is clear. The term &quot;article of manufacture is broad enough to encompass both a product sold to a consumer as well as a component of that product,&quot; she wrote.

Period of uncertainity

The justices nevertheless refused to devise a test for juries and lower courts to use to discern what a relevant article of manufacture is in a particular case, a task that could be fraught with difficulty when considering high-tech products.

&quot;No doubt whether with Apple-Samsung, or some other design patent case, we are going to have a period of uncertainty where courts will be trying to formulate a test and what the boundaries are,&quot; Richard McKenna, an expert in design rights at the law firm Foley &amp; Lardner in Milwaukee, said in an interview.

In court papers, Apple said its iPhone&#39;s success was tied to innovative designs, which other manufacturers quickly adopted in their own products. Samsung, in particular, made a deliberate decision to copy the iPhone&#39;s look and many user interface features, Apple said.

Samsung argued that it should not have had to turn over all its profits, saying that design elements contributed only marginally to a complex product with thousands of patented features.

Design patent fights very rarely reach the Supreme Court. It had not heard such a case in more than 120 years.

The case is Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd v. Apple Inc, in the Supreme Court of the United States, No. 15-777.

(Reuters)

The ruling held that violator doesn't have to give away all its profits made from stolen designs, if the designs covered only certain parts

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Samsung in its big-money smartphone patent fight with Apple, throwing out an appeals court ruling that the South Korean company had to pay a $399 million penalty to its American rival for copying key iPhone designs. The 8-0 ruling, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, held that a patent violator does not always have to fork over its entire profits from the sales of products using stolen designs, if the designs covered only certain components and not the whole thing. The justices sent the case back to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington to determine how much Samsung must pay. But they did not provide a road map to juries and lower courts on how to navigate similar disputes in the future. Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock said in a statement that the US company remained "optimistic that the lower courts will again send a powerful signal that stealing isn't right." Samsung told Reuters in a statement the ruling was a "victory for Samsung and for all those who promote creativity, innovation and fair competition in the marketplace." Following a 2012 jury verdict favouring Apple, Samsung initially was hit with nearly $930 million in penalties, later cut by $382 million, for infringing Apple's iPhone patents and mimicking its distinctive appearance in making the Galaxy and other competing devices. Samsung in December 2015 paid its Cupertino, California-based rival $548 million. But Samsung took the matter to the Supreme Court, saying it should not have had to make $399 million of that payout for copying the patented designs of the iPhone's rounded-corner front face, bezel and colourful grid of icons that represent programs and applications. With the products that used iPhone designs, Samsung went on to become the world's top smartphone maker. Tuesday's ruling followed a ferocious legal battle between the world's top two smartphone manufacturers that began in 2011 when Apple sued Samsung for patent and trademark infringement. It was one of the most closely watched patent cases to come before the top US court in recent years. The legal dispute centred on whether the term "article of manufacture," on which design patent damages are calculated in U.S. patent law, should be interpreted as a finished product in its entirety, or merely a component in a complex product. In court papers, Samsung, Apple and the US government all agreed that the term could mean a component. But Apple urged the Supreme Court to affirm the appeals court's ruling because Samsung presented no evidence that the article of manufacture in this case was anything less than its entire smartphone as sold. Samsung, meanwhile, said that it did not have to present such evidence. Sotomayor, writing for the unanimous court, said that the law is clear. The term "article of manufacture is broad enough to encompass both a product sold to a consumer as well as a component of that product," she wrote. Period of uncertainity The justices nevertheless refused to devise a test for juries and lower courts to use to discern what a relevant article of manufacture is in a particular case, a task that could be fraught with difficulty when considering high-tech products. "No doubt whether with Apple-Samsung, or some other design patent case, we are going to have a period of uncertainty where courts will be trying to formulate a test and what the boundaries are," Richard McKenna, an expert in design rights at the law firm Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee, said in an interview. In court papers, Apple said its iPhone's success was tied to innovative designs, which other manufacturers quickly adopted in their own products. Samsung, in particular, made a deliberate decision to copy the iPhone's look and many user interface features, Apple said. Samsung argued that it should not have had to turn over all its profits, saying that design elements contributed only marginally to a complex product with thousands of patented features. Design patent fights very rarely reach the Supreme Court. It had not heard such a case in more than 120 years. The case is Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd v. Apple Inc, in the Supreme Court of the United States, No. 15-777. (Reuters)

US Supreme Court rules in favour of Samsung in Apple design patent case

After weeks of speculations, Apple has finally unveiled the much-anticipated iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus smartphones. The former features a 4.7-inch screen, while the latter comes with a 5.5-inch display. 
 
While the next-generation iPhones come with a host of enhancements, the most significant of them is the removal of the headphone jack. In other words, the new iPhones don&rsquo;t include the traditional 3.5 mm port to connect headphones. The iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, instead, will allow users to connect headphones using Apple&#39;s proprietary Lightning connector. 
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&quot;We are taking the headphones in iPhone 7 and 7 Plus to Lightning, and including them in the box with the device. We have also made a (3.5 mm headphone jack) adapter, which will be included in the box as well,&quot; said Apple vice president Phil Schiller at the iPhone 7 launch event.&nbsp;The adapter will let people use old headphones and accessories with the new iPhones. 
 
With the&nbsp;view to offer users a hassle-free audio experience, Apple has also introduced new wireless headphones - AirPods - which will be available in late October at $159. 
 
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Another key improvement in the new iPhones is on the camera front. The iPhone 7 sports a 12 megapixel rear camera with six-element lens, optical image stabilisation and a larger f/1.8 aperture. The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, has a dual-camera setup at the back. The Plus variant features the same 12 megapixel wide-angle camera as the iPhone 7 along with a 12 megapixel telephoto lens that offers a 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom. The new iPhones come with a 7 megapixel front HD camera - up from 5 megapixel on the iPhone 6s. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/design_hero_large-20160907093030.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
The iPhone 7 Plus has a dual-camera setup at the back. (Image: Apple)
</div>
The next-generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come with iOS 10, which is claimed to be the biggest release ever of Apple&rsquo;s mobile operating system. Apple will start rolling out the iOS 10 software update from September 13. 
 
Other key features in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus include stereo speakers, 25 per cent brighter Retina HD display, and&nbsp;the A10 Fusion chipset which is claimed to be 40 per cent faster than the A9 chipset that powers its predecessors.&nbsp;The new iPhones are water and dust-resistant. 
 
Pricing and availability 
 
Prices for the iPhone 7 start at $649, while the iPhone 7 Plus is priced at $769 onwards. 
 
Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be up for pre-order starting&nbsp;September 9, and will go on sale from&nbsp;September 16. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in more than 25 countries, including China and the US, beginning&nbsp;September 16.&nbsp; 
 
One week later, the new iPhones will be available in 30 more countries including Russia and Greece. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in India from October 7. The phones will be priced in India at Rs 60,000 onwards. 
 
The new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in silver, gold, rose gold and the new black finish in 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB models. The new jet black finish, however, will be offered only on the 128 GB and 256 GB models. 
 
(WION)
&nbsp;

Apple's latest iterations of the iPhone do not include the traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack

After weeks of speculations, Apple has finally unveiled the much-anticipated iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus smartphones. The former features a 4.7-inch screen, while the latter comes with a 5.5-inch display. While the next-generation iPhones come with a host of enhancements, the most significant of them is the removal of the headphone jack. In other words, the new iPhones don’t include the traditional 3.5 mm port to connect headphones. The iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, instead, will allow users to connect headphones using Apple's proprietary Lightning connector. "We are taking the headphones in iPhone 7 and 7 Plus to Lightning, and including them in the box with the device. We have also made a (3.5 mm headphone jack) adapter, which will be included in the box as well," said Apple vice president Phil Schiller at the iPhone 7 launch event. The adapter will let people use old headphones and accessories with the new iPhones. With the view to offer users a hassle-free audio experience, Apple has also introduced new wireless headphones - AirPods - which will be available in late October at $159. Another key improvement in the new iPhones is on the camera front. The iPhone 7 sports a 12 megapixel rear camera with six-element lens, optical image stabilisation and a larger f/1.8 aperture. The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, has a dual-camera setup at the back. The Plus variant features the same 12 megapixel wide-angle camera as the iPhone 7 along with a 12 megapixel telephoto lens that offers a 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom. The new iPhones come with a 7 megapixel front HD camera - up from 5 megapixel on the iPhone 6s. The iPhone 7 Plus has a dual-camera setup at the back. (Image: Apple) The next-generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come with iOS 10, which is claimed to be the biggest release ever of Apple’s mobile operating system. Apple will start rolling out the iOS 10 software update from September 13. Other key features in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus include stereo speakers, 25 per cent brighter Retina HD display, and the A10 Fusion chipset which is claimed to be 40 per cent faster than the A9 chipset that powers its predecessors. The new iPhones are water and dust-resistant. Pricing and availability Prices for the iPhone 7 start at $649, while the iPhone 7 Plus is priced at $769 onwards. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be up for pre-order starting September 9, and will go on sale from September 16. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in more than 25 countries, including China and the US, beginning September 16. One week later, the new iPhones will be available in 30 more countries including Russia and Greece. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in India from October 7. The phones will be priced in India at Rs 60,000 onwards. The new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in silver, gold, rose gold and the new black finish in 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB models. The new jet black finish, however, will be offered only on the 128 GB and 256 GB models. (WION)

Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus unveiled; priced at $649 onwards

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