Tim Cook has said that Apple has a "responsibility" to do business in China. Is the tech giant putting business above human rights? Palki Sharma tells you about Apple's China compromise.

Gravitas: Apple won't stop dealing with China

A US judge has rejected Apple's request to delay letting App Store offerings bypass its payment system as ordered by the court, saying it had 30 days to comply in a case brought by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.

Apple wanted the change -- ordered to be implemented by a December 9 deadline -- put on hold as it appeals a ruling in September by judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the antitrust suit filed by Epic.

Epic filed the lawsuit to break Apple's grip on the App Store, accusing the iPhone maker of operating a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/uks-top-court-blocks-class-action-lawsuit-against-google-428249" hreflang="en">UK's top court blocks class action lawsuit against Google</a>

In Tuesday's ruling, judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Epic had failed to prove that antitrust violations had taken place.

"Apple's motion is based on a selective reading of this court's findings and ignores all of the findings which supported the injunction," Gonzalez Rogers wrote in the order.

"Namely incipient antitrust conduct including supercompetitive commission rates resulting in extraordinarily high operating margins and which have not been correlated to the value of its intellectual property."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apples-first-computer-hand-built-by-jobs-and-wozniak-sells-for-400000-428086" hreflang="en">Apple's first computer hand-built by Jobs and Wozniak sells for $400,000</a>

The judge reasoned that Apple's policies not allowing app developers to steer users to payment platforms outside the App Store as being a factor in the "antitrust conduct."

"Apple believes no additional business changes should be required to take effect until all appeals in this case are resolved," an Apple spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"We intend to ask the Ninth Circuit for a stay based on these circumstances," the spokesperson said, referring to a federal appeals court.

After the ruling in September, Apple said it was "very happy" with the decision overall.

The judge's order permanently barred Apple from prohibiting developers from including in their apps "external links or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms."

Apple can still mandate that its payment systems be used for in-app transactions.

For Epic and others, the ability to redirect users to an out-of-app payment method is not enough: it wants players to be able to pay directly without leaving the game.

Both Epic and Apple have appealed the trial verdict.

Apple's argument that letting app makers link to outside payment systems could lead to a loss of trust and integrity in the software platform on which its mobile devices rely are "exaggerated," the judge wrote.

Apple in October updated its App Store rules to allow developers to contact users directly about payments, a concession in a legal settlement with companies challenging its tightly controlled marketplace.

According to the updated App Store rules, developers can now contact consumers directly about alternative payment methods, bypassing Apple's commission of 15 or 30 percent.

Apple proposed the changes in August in a legal settlement with small app developers. 
&nbsp;

A US judge has rejected Apple's request to delay letting App Store offerings bypass its payment system as ordered by the court, saying it had 30 days to comply in a case brought by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.

A US judge has rejected Apple's request to delay letting App Store offerings bypass its payment system as ordered by the court, saying it had 30 days to comply in a case brought by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite. Apple wanted the change -- ordered to be implemented by a December 9 deadline -- put on hold as it appeals a ruling in September by judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the antitrust suit filed by Epic. Epic filed the lawsuit to break Apple's grip on the App Store, accusing the iPhone maker of operating a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services. Also read | UK's top court blocks class action lawsuit against Google In Tuesday's ruling, judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Epic had failed to prove that antitrust violations had taken place. "Apple's motion is based on a selective reading of this court's findings and ignores all of the findings which supported the injunction," Gonzalez Rogers wrote in the order. "Namely incipient antitrust conduct including supercompetitive commission rates resulting in extraordinarily high operating margins and which have not been correlated to the value of its intellectual property." Also read | Apple's first computer hand-built by Jobs and Wozniak sells for $400,000 The judge reasoned that Apple's policies not allowing app developers to steer users to payment platforms outside the App Store as being a factor in the "antitrust conduct." "Apple believes no additional business changes should be required to take effect until all appeals in this case are resolved," an Apple spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry. "We intend to ask the Ninth Circuit for a stay based on these circumstances," the spokesperson said, referring to a federal appeals court. After the ruling in September, Apple said it was "very happy" with the decision overall. The judge's order permanently barred Apple from prohibiting developers from including in their apps "external links or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms." Apple can still mandate that its payment systems be used for in-app transactions. For Epic and others, the ability to redirect users to an out-of-app payment method is not enough: it wants players to be able to pay directly without leaving the game. Both Epic and Apple have appealed the trial verdict. Apple's argument that letting app makers link to outside payment systems could lead to a loss of trust and integrity in the software platform on which its mobile devices rely are "exaggerated," the judge wrote. Apple in October updated its App Store rules to allow developers to contact users directly about payments, a concession in a legal settlement with companies challenging its tightly controlled marketplace. According to the updated App Store rules, developers can now contact consumers directly about alternative payment methods, bypassing Apple's commission of 15 or 30 percent. Apple proposed the changes in August in a legal settlement with small app developers.

Apple loses bid to stall apps bypassing pay system in Epic Games case

Apple-1, the original Apple computer hand-built by company founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak,&nbsp;went for $400,000&nbsp;at&nbsp;an auction&nbsp;in the US.&nbsp;

John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California, auctioned it off on Tuesday&nbsp;one of 200 Apple-1 computers that was made 45 years ago.

The so-called "Chaffey College" Apple-1 is one of only 200 made by Jobs and Wozniak at the very start of the company's odyssey from garage start-up to megalith worth $2 trillion.

The auctioned computer is called "Chaffey College" is because its original owner was a professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He later sold the computer to a student in 1977 so that he could buy an Apple-II computer.&nbsp;

The student, who remains unidentified, has kept the computer until now.

The functioning Apple-1 is the great-great-grandfather of today's sleek chrome-and-glass Macbooks. It is expected that the computer will fetch USD 600,000 at the auction in California.

The piece to be auctioned is rarer still than most other Apple-1 computers. This one is encased in koa wood, a richly patinated wood native to Hawaii. Only a handful of the original 200 were made in this way.

Jobs and Wozniak mostly sold Apple-1s as component parts. One computer shop that took a delivery of around 50 units decided to encase some of them in wood, the auction house said.

"This is kind of the holy grail for vintage electronics and computer tech collectors," Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen told the Los Angeles Times. "That really makes it exciting for a lot of people."

Auction house John Moran Auctioneers says the device, which comes with a 1986 Panasonic video monitor, has only ever had two owners.

"It was originally purchased by an electronics professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California, who then sold it to his student in 1977," a listing on the auction house's website says.

The Los Angeles Times reported the student -- who has not been named -- paid just $650 for it at the time. 
That student now stands to make a pretty penny: a working Apple-1 that came to the market in 2014 was sold by Bonhams for more than $900,000.

"A lot of people just want to know what kind of a person collects Apple-1 computers and it's not just people in the tech industry," Cohen said.

Apple raced to success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but floundered after the departure of Jobs and Wozniak.

The company was reinvigorated in the late 1990s, and Jobs was brought back into the fold as the chief executive.

He oversaw the launch of the iPod, and later the world-changing iPhone, before his death in 2011.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Apple-1, the original Apple computer hand-built by company founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, went for $400,000 at an auction in the US. John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California, auctioned it off on Tuesday one of 200 Apple-1 computers that was made 45 years ago.

Apple-1, the original Apple computer hand-built by company founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, went for $400,000 at an auction in the US. John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California, auctioned it off on Tuesday one of 200 Apple-1 computers that was made 45 years ago. The so-called "Chaffey College" Apple-1 is one of only 200 made by Jobs and Wozniak at the very start of the company's odyssey from garage start-up to megalith worth $2 trillion. The auctioned computer is called "Chaffey College" is because its original owner was a professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He later sold the computer to a student in 1977 so that he could buy an Apple-II computer. The student, who remains unidentified, has kept the computer until now. The functioning Apple-1 is the great-great-grandfather of today's sleek chrome-and-glass Macbooks. It is expected that the computer will fetch USD 600,000 at the auction in California. The piece to be auctioned is rarer still than most other Apple-1 computers. This one is encased in koa wood, a richly patinated wood native to Hawaii. Only a handful of the original 200 were made in this way. Jobs and Wozniak mostly sold Apple-1s as component parts. One computer shop that took a delivery of around 50 units decided to encase some of them in wood, the auction house said. "This is kind of the holy grail for vintage electronics and computer tech collectors," Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen told the Los Angeles Times. "That really makes it exciting for a lot of people." Auction house John Moran Auctioneers says the device, which comes with a 1986 Panasonic video monitor, has only ever had two owners. "It was originally purchased by an electronics professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California, who then sold it to his student in 1977," a listing on the auction house's website says. The Los Angeles Times reported the student -- who has not been named -- paid just $650 for it at the time. That student now stands to make a pretty penny: a working Apple-1 that came to the market in 2014 was sold by Bonhams for more than $900,000. "A lot of people just want to know what kind of a person collects Apple-1 computers and it's not just people in the tech industry," Cohen said. Apple raced to success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but floundered after the departure of Jobs and Wozniak. The company was reinvigorated in the late 1990s, and Jobs was brought back into the fold as the chief executive. He oversaw the launch of the iPod, and later the world-changing iPhone, before his death in 2011. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple's first computer hand-built by Jobs and Wozniak sells for $400,000

Any gadget user would think Apple's phones and laptops would be hurt the hardest by worldwide supply shortages, but that isn't the case.

The $19 Polishing Cloth is Apple's most backordered new product, according to The New York Times.

You'll have to wait 10 to 12 weeks to acquire your Apple-branded polishing experience if you get the microfiber cloth from the corporate shop as of this writing – in other words, you won't have your Apple-branded polishing experience until January 2022 at the earliest. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-unveils-a-19-polishing-cloth-to-clean-your-macbook-iphone-422529">Also read | Apple unveils a $19 ‘polishing cloth’ to clean your MacBook, iPhone</a> 
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<h5>You can buy a new MacBook Pro and wait two months for the screen to be (officially) cleaned of smudges.</h5>
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The 6.3-by-6.3-inch cloth was released in October, which is when Apple usually unveils new goods.

But, unlike some of Apple's other recent launches, such as the long-awaited M1 MacBook Pro and a redesigned iPad Mini, the Polishing Cloth arrived quietly and without fanfare.

Despite the fact that the cloth was not technically a new product, it rapidly became a best-seller.

The fabric was previously only available for Apple's XDR Pro Displays, but it's now available for all Apple devices.&nbsp;

If you're cleaning a standard screen, it's no secret that you can find far, much less expensive options.

The deficit, on the other hand, demonstrates both the official product's cachet and the breadth of supply limitations influencing technology, often in surprising ways.

If you can't even receive a polishing cloth in a timely manner, you know the sector is suffering from widespread supply problems.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Any gadget user would think Apple's phones and laptops would be hurt the hardest by worldwide supply shortages, but that isn't the case. The $19 Polishing Cloth is Apple's most backordered new product, according to The New York Times.

Any gadget user would think Apple's phones and laptops would be hurt the hardest by worldwide supply shortages, but that isn't the case. The $19 Polishing Cloth is Apple's most backordered new product, according to The New York Times. You'll have to wait 10 to 12 weeks to acquire your Apple-branded polishing experience if you get the microfiber cloth from the corporate shop as of this writing – in other words, you won't have your Apple-branded polishing experience until January 2022 at the earliest. Also read | Apple unveils a $19 ‘polishing cloth’ to clean your MacBook, iPhone You can buy a new MacBook Pro and wait two months for the screen to be (officially) cleaned of smudges. × The 6.3-by-6.3-inch cloth was released in October, which is when Apple usually unveils new goods. But, unlike some of Apple's other recent launches, such as the long-awaited M1 MacBook Pro and a redesigned iPad Mini, the Polishing Cloth arrived quietly and without fanfare. Despite the fact that the cloth was not technically a new product, it rapidly became a best-seller. The fabric was previously only available for Apple's XDR Pro Displays, but it's now available for all Apple devices. If you're cleaning a standard screen, it's no secret that you can find far, much less expensive options. The deficit, on the other hand, demonstrates both the official product's cachet and the breadth of supply limitations influencing technology, often in surprising ways. If you can't even receive a polishing cloth in a timely manner, you know the sector is suffering from widespread supply problems. (With inputs from agencies)

Worst shipping delay: $19 polishing cloth is Apple's most back-ordered product

Apple this month unveiled an array of new gadgets: more powerful MacBook laptop computers, AirPod wireless headphones with longer battery life and HomePod Mini speakers in three more colors.

But a different and unheralded Apple release is garnering so much interest that it has become the company’s most back-ordered new product: a $19, 6.3-by-6.3-inch cloth to wipe smudges and fingerprints off screens.

The cloth, imprinted with the Apple logo in the corner, is made with “soft, nonabrasive material” to clean the screens of iPhones, iPads and MacBooks “safely and effectively,” according to the product page. The listing adds that the Polishing Cloth — capital P, capital C — is “compatible” with 88 different Apple products. For most U.S. shoppers, shipment is delayed until Jan. 11, at the earliest.

Charging $19 for a piece of cloth about the size of two stacked dollar bills is bold even by Apple’s standards, a company whose legions of loyal customers are conditioned to stomach steep prices. An Apple-branded set of four wheels to “improve mobility” for the Mac Pro, the company’s most expensive desktop computer, is priced at $699, for instance.

But the Polishing Cloth stands out because it is far more expensive than widely available alternatives. MagicFiber, a popular brand of microfiber cloth that uses ultrafine fibers to clean glass without scratching the surface, offers a pack of six for $9 on Amazon.

“You have to give them credit for the chutzpah to charge $19,” Walter Gonzalez, president and founder of Goja, the parent company of MagicFiber, said of Apple.

Even so, the price has not stopped Apple fans from rushing to be early adopters.

Albert Lee, 47, a director at a consulting firm in New York, said he bought the cloth at an Apple Store on Tuesday. He was picking up a new MacBook Pro, a high-end laptop computer, when the Polishing Cloth caught his eye. He bought four and then posted a picture of his bounty on Twitter.

“It’s just a point of sheer excess,” Lee acknowledged, calling the splurge an impulse buy of “the most elite cloth.” He added: “I just spent $4,000 on a laptop. What’s another $19?”

On Twitter, the cloth has been fodder for jokes and even a parody account since Apple quietly put it on sale on Oct. 18. Later that week, when Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, posted a tweet promoting a new retail store in Turkey, Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, needled him by replying, “Come see the Apple Cloth” with a trademark logo.

(Musk’s company is also not shy about testing the strength of its brand and the fealty of its customers. Tesla’s website offers a company-branded “handblown” decanter for $150 and a $60 umbrella with an “ergonomically designed handle.”)

Technically, the cloth is not a new product. Apple had previously provided it free for customers who bought one of its high-end monitors, Pro Display XDR. The $5,999 display has a special type of glass that reduces glare, but may scratch if wiped with a conventional cloth. Apple said it designed its own cloth for that special glass and decided to sell the product separately when some customers asked to buy extras.

An Apple official said in an interview, based on the condition that The New York Times not quote or identify her, that the company was not surprised by the demand for the Polishing Cloth. The official said the cloth was very effective and had been designed to be special, including a custom light gray color. Apple said the cloth was made of a nonwoven microfiber but declined to elaborate.

Federico Viticci, editor-in-chief of MacStories, a website dedicated to Apple news and apps, said he initially thought the Polishing Cloth was a joke.

“I’ve been cleaning my iPhone screen and my iPad screen with the cloth that comes with my eyeglasses or my T-shirt, or a paper towel like normal people,” he said.

But Viticci, who is based in Italy, said he ended up buying the Polishing Cloth because “I kind of realized the meme potential here.” His tweets about the product have since gotten hundreds or thousands of likes and retweets, with subscribers to his site asking for exclusive cloth photos.

Patrick Tomasso, 32, a Toronto-based YouTube creator of tech and photography-related videos, said he also thought that Apple charging 25 Canadian dollars for the cloth was “ridiculous” since many tech products include a free microfiber cloth.

But when he noticed that it was not shipping until next year, he said he got a “bit of FOMO” — fear of missing out — and quickly snapped up two sheets from a nearby Apple store. As a spoof, Tomasso then made an “unboxing video” of himself opening the “most revolutionary Apple product.”

In the video, he noticed that the Polishing Cloth’s color looked different in person — more gray, less white — and that there was a big crease in the middle that might need to be ironed.

His assessment? It’s a nice cloth worth maybe $5.

“I probably would not buy it again but I like the fact that I own one,” Tomasso said. Then he paused and added, “But I hate that I like that I own one.”

Apple this month unveiled an array of new gadgets: more powerful MacBook laptop computers, AirPod wireless headphones with longer battery life and HomePod Mini speakers in three more colors.

Apple this month unveiled an array of new gadgets: more powerful MacBook laptop computers, AirPod wireless headphones with longer battery life and HomePod Mini speakers in three more colors. But a different and unheralded Apple release is garnering so much interest that it has become the company’s most back-ordered new product: a $19, 6.3-by-6.3-inch cloth to wipe smudges and fingerprints off screens. The cloth, imprinted with the Apple logo in the corner, is made with “soft, nonabrasive material” to clean the screens of iPhones, iPads and MacBooks “safely and effectively,” according to the product page. The listing adds that the Polishing Cloth — capital P, capital C — is “compatible” with 88 different Apple products. For most U.S. shoppers, shipment is delayed until Jan. 11, at the earliest. Charging $19 for a piece of cloth about the size of two stacked dollar bills is bold even by Apple’s standards, a company whose legions of loyal customers are conditioned to stomach steep prices. An Apple-branded set of four wheels to “improve mobility” for the Mac Pro, the company’s most expensive desktop computer, is priced at $699, for instance. But the Polishing Cloth stands out because it is far more expensive than widely available alternatives. MagicFiber, a popular brand of microfiber cloth that uses ultrafine fibers to clean glass without scratching the surface, offers a pack of six for $9 on Amazon. “You have to give them credit for the chutzpah to charge $19,” Walter Gonzalez, president and founder of Goja, the parent company of MagicFiber, said of Apple. Even so, the price has not stopped Apple fans from rushing to be early adopters. Albert Lee, 47, a director at a consulting firm in New York, said he bought the cloth at an Apple Store on Tuesday. He was picking up a new MacBook Pro, a high-end laptop computer, when the Polishing Cloth caught his eye. He bought four and then posted a picture of his bounty on Twitter. “It’s just a point of sheer excess,” Lee acknowledged, calling the splurge an impulse buy of “the most elite cloth.” He added: “I just spent $4,000 on a laptop. What’s another $19?” On Twitter, the cloth has been fodder for jokes and even a parody account since Apple quietly put it on sale on Oct. 18. Later that week, when Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, posted a tweet promoting a new retail store in Turkey, Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, needled him by replying, “Come see the Apple Cloth” with a trademark logo. (Musk’s company is also not shy about testing the strength of its brand and the fealty of its customers. Tesla’s website offers a company-branded “handblown” decanter for $150 and a $60 umbrella with an “ergonomically designed handle.”) Technically, the cloth is not a new product. Apple had previously provided it free for customers who bought one of its high-end monitors, Pro Display XDR. The $5,999 display has a special type of glass that reduces glare, but may scratch if wiped with a conventional cloth. Apple said it designed its own cloth for that special glass and decided to sell the product separately when some customers asked to buy extras. An Apple official said in an interview, based on the condition that The New York Times not quote or identify her, that the company was not surprised by the demand for the Polishing Cloth. The official said the cloth was very effective and had been designed to be special, including a custom light gray color. Apple said the cloth was made of a nonwoven microfiber but declined to elaborate. Federico Viticci, editor-in-chief of MacStories, a website dedicated to Apple news and apps, said he initially thought the Polishing Cloth was a joke. “I’ve been cleaning my iPhone screen and my iPad screen with the cloth that comes with my eyeglasses or my T-shirt, or a paper towel like normal people,” he said. But Viticci, who is based in Italy, said he ended up buying the Polishing Cloth because “I kind of realized the meme potential here.” His tweets about the product have since gotten hundreds or thousands of likes and retweets, with subscribers to his site asking for exclusive cloth photos. Patrick Tomasso, 32, a Toronto-based YouTube creator of tech and photography-related videos, said he also thought that Apple charging 25 Canadian dollars for the cloth was “ridiculous” since many tech products include a free microfiber cloth. But when he noticed that it was not shipping until next year, he said he got a “bit of FOMO” — fear of missing out — and quickly snapped up two sheets from a nearby Apple store. As a spoof, Tomasso then made an “unboxing video” of himself opening the “most revolutionary Apple product.” In the video, he noticed that the Polishing Cloth’s color looked different in person — more gray, less white — and that there was a big crease in the middle that might need to be ironed. His assessment? It’s a nice cloth worth maybe $5. “I probably would not buy it again but I like the fact that I own one,” Tomasso said. Then he paused and added, “But I hate that I like that I own one.”

Apple's most back-ordered new product is not what you expect

Supply chain woes have caused Apple now 6 billion dollars in sales during fiscal fourth quarter.

Supply chain woes cause Apple 6 billion dollars

Mark Zuckerberg's announcement of changing Facebook's name to 'Meta' has triggered an online debate on social media platform Twitter about the future of tech companies.

"To reflect who we are and what we hope to build I am proud to announce, starting today our company is now Meta," Zuckerberg said.&nbsp;

"Our mission remains the same, it is still about bringing people together," he added while asserting that "we are still the company that designs technology around people."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-changes-its-name-to-meta-as-it-forays-into-newer-horizons-like-virtual-reality-424885/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The change in Facebook's name comes as a rebrand that focuses on building the "metaverse," a shared virtual environment that it bets will be the successor to the mobile internet.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-is-now-meta-says-mark-zuckerberg-changes-company-name-to-reflect-metaverse-vision-424860">Facebook is now Meta, says Mark Zuckerberg, changes company name</a>

Earlier, the acronym used for Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google was FAANG. After Zuckerberg's decision, the acronym has been reshuffled by analysts and financial journalists.

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How it started How it's going <a href="https://t.co/ewty6VbaVh">pic.twitter.com/ewty6VbaVh</a>
— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorningBrew/status/1453797543096238080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Taking a jibe at the change of Facebook's name and logo, Twitter users speculated the transformation in the acronym for tech companies.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-or-facebook-twitter-users-make-fun-of-rebranding-of-social-media-platform-424869">Meta or Facebook? Twitter makes fun of rebranding of social media platform</a>

While some called it MANGA, which stands for Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Google, and Apple, others called it MAGMA.

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FAANG is over. 
meta, apple, google, ms, amazon = MAGMA <a href="https://t.co/F9WGhiA5UP">pic.twitter.com/F9WGhiA5UP</a>
— Eric Adler (@ericladler) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericladler/status/1453797659907526668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Shorthands for monikers are usually used by today's tech-savvy generation that faces a character limit on posts in the case of Twitter.

Some Twitteratis even questioned why is Google not using the name of its parent company Alphabet Inc and what would happen if Netflix is dropped from the acronym and is replaced by&nbsp;Elon Musk's Tesla.

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if we're using Meta for Facebook then Google has to be Alphabet so the new acronym should really be: 
 
MAAAN 
 
pretty fitting tbh
— Ali Spittel 🐞 (@ASpittel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASpittel/status/1453794812260323336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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What do we call FAANG now? If we drop Netflix for Tesla, it could be MAGAT...
— CIO of The North (@MNupdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNupdate/status/1453799924487819280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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MANGA is also a term used for anime or graphic novels in Japan.

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FAANG is now MANGA 
 
better brush up on your anime.
— Hedgeye (@Hedgeye) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hedgeye/status/1453790162782146560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Facebook is battling criticisms from lawmakers and regulators over its market power, algorithmic decisions, and the policing of abuses on its services.

Mark Zuckerberg's announcement of changing Facebook's name to 'Meta' has triggered an online debate on social media platform Twitter about the future of tech companies.

Mark Zuckerberg's announcement of changing Facebook's name to 'Meta' has triggered an online debate on social media platform Twitter about the future of tech companies. "To reflect who we are and what we hope to build I am proud to announce, starting today our company is now Meta," Zuckerberg said. "Our mission remains the same, it is still about bringing people together," he added while asserting that "we are still the company that designs technology around people." The change in Facebook's name comes as a rebrand that focuses on building the "metaverse," a shared virtual environment that it bets will be the successor to the mobile internet. Also read | Facebook is now Meta, says Mark Zuckerberg, changes company name Earlier, the acronym used for Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google was FAANG. After Zuckerberg's decision, the acronym has been reshuffled by analysts and financial journalists. How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/ewty6VbaVh — Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) October 28, 2021 × Taking a jibe at the change of Facebook's name and logo, Twitter users speculated the transformation in the acronym for tech companies. Also read | Meta or Facebook? Twitter makes fun of rebranding of social media platform While some called it MANGA, which stands for Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Google, and Apple, others called it MAGMA. FAANG is over. meta, apple, google, ms, amazon = MAGMA pic.twitter.com/F9WGhiA5UP — Eric Adler (@ericladler) October 28, 2021 × Shorthands for monikers are usually used by today's tech-savvy generation that faces a character limit on posts in the case of Twitter. Some Twitteratis even questioned why is Google not using the name of its parent company Alphabet Inc and what would happen if Netflix is dropped from the acronym and is replaced by Elon Musk's Tesla. if we're using Meta for Facebook then Google has to be Alphabet so the new acronym should really be: MAAAN pretty fitting tbh — Ali Spittel 🐞 (@ASpittel) October 28, 2021 × What do we call FAANG now? If we drop Netflix for Tesla, it could be MAGAT... — CIO of The North (@MNupdate) October 28, 2021 × MANGA is also a term used for anime or graphic novels in Japan. FAANG is now MANGA better brush up on your anime. — Hedgeye (@Hedgeye) October 28, 2021 × Facebook is battling criticisms from lawmakers and regulators over its market power, algorithmic decisions, and the policing of abuses on its services.

From FAANG to MANGA: Twitter users speculate future of tech companies

The impact of food waste on climate emission is an increasing concern for many especially ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow. In Switzerland, a community association is linking orchards, volunteers to ensure that more apples find their way into the food chain.

Community in Switzerland harvest unpicked apples as food waste affects climate change

Along with its new MacBook Pro and AirPods 3, Apple just released a product that has sparked internet buzz.

The&nbsp;tech behemoth has released an unique cleaning cloth for its gadgets, which costs $19.

The cloth was created specifically to clean any Apple display, "even nano-texture glass," in a safe and effective manner.

The high price for something as basic as a cleaning cloth, on the other hand, elicited a flurry of comments on Twitter.&nbsp;

While many people thought that selling a cleaning cloth for that price was absurd, others wasted no time in creating amusing memes around the product.

Not only that, but users' laughter was heightened when they discovered a list of compatible gadgets for Apple's new offering.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, Apple's cleaning cloth has already surpassed the status of the highest-margin tangible product.

Furthermore, the firm claims that the polishing cloth is currently in low supply and will take three to four weeks to ship worldwide.&nbsp;

Apple also provided a compatibility list, demonstrating that the polishing cloth is compatible with nearly all Apple devices.

Apple claims that it is compatible with iPhone 6 and later, MacBooks and iMacs dating back to 2015, all iPads, Apple Watches, and iPod touches, and, as previously noted, the Pro Display XDR.

It's amusing that earlier iPhone models aren't included on this list, implying that they're incompatible... with a cleaning cloth.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Along with its new MacBook Pro and AirPods 3, Apple just released a product that has sparked internet buzz. The tech behemoth has released an unique cleaning cloth for its gadgets, which costs $19.

Along with its new MacBook Pro and AirPods 3, Apple just released a product that has sparked internet buzz. The tech behemoth has released an unique cleaning cloth for its gadgets, which costs $19. The cloth was created specifically to clean any Apple display, "even nano-texture glass," in a safe and effective manner. The high price for something as basic as a cleaning cloth, on the other hand, elicited a flurry of comments on Twitter. While many people thought that selling a cleaning cloth for that price was absurd, others wasted no time in creating amusing memes around the product. Not only that, but users' laughter was heightened when they discovered a list of compatible gadgets for Apple's new offering. Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, Apple's cleaning cloth has already surpassed the status of the highest-margin tangible product. Furthermore, the firm claims that the polishing cloth is currently in low supply and will take three to four weeks to ship worldwide. Apple also provided a compatibility list, demonstrating that the polishing cloth is compatible with nearly all Apple devices. Apple claims that it is compatible with iPhone 6 and later, MacBooks and iMacs dating back to 2015, all iPads, Apple Watches, and iPod touches, and, as previously noted, the Pro Display XDR. It's amusing that earlier iPhone models aren't included on this list, implying that they're incompatible... with a cleaning cloth. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple unveils a $19 ‘polishing cloth’ to clean your MacBook, iPhone

Apple on Monday launched its new series of MacBook Pro laptops in both 14 and 16-inch display options, promising an upgrade in both design and performance.

The 16-inch model (2021) will be available in silver and space gray, with a starting price of $2,499, while the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (2021) starts at $1,999.&nbsp;In India, the 14-inch laptop starts at a price of Rs. 1,94,900 ($2,593 approximately). It is also available for education at Rs. 1,75,410 ($2,334 approximately).

The new laptops will be available across the countries from October 26.

Whereas the16-inch model starts at Rs. 2,39,900 ($3,192 approximately) for regular customers and Rs. 2,15,910 ($2,873) for education.

They are powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chipset. Both chipsets have a 10-core CPU and 16-core (Pro) and 32-core GPU (Max) respectively.

Apple has added HDMI, SD card ports back to the MacBook Pro along with MagSafe charging.

The new Liquid Retina HDR displays will come with an iPhone-like notch display which has can deliver up to claimed 1,600 nits of peak brightness and feature ProMotion adaptive refresh rate.

Also, the camera will have Full HD quality and spatial audio to make them more relevant in the time of video conferencing.

The enclosure is entirely aluminium, and Apple says the new cooling system can move “50 per cent more air” than previous MacBooks with quieter fan speeds.

The chassis has also received a modern redesign. The device is 4.7 pounds and 16.8mm thick, with a 16.2-inch display. The M1 Pro model supports up to two Pro Display XDRs, and the M1 Max config can handle up to three in addition to a 4K TV.

Apple claims the 16-inch Pro will deliver 21 hours of video playback on battery, which is “the longest battery life ever on a Mac notebook”, per the company.

According to Apple, it’s the most connectivity we’ve ever seen from a Mac notebook, according to Apple.

Apple claims the new processors will be able to offer much more power, but using much less energy than PC processors.

The tech giant is claiming that the new MacBook Pros can last up to 10 hours of battery life, more than previous generations.

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple on Monday launched its new series of MacBook Pro laptops in both 14 and 16-inch display options, promising an upgrade in both design and performance. The 16-inch model (2021) will be available in silver and space gray, with a starting price of $2,499, while the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (2021) starts at $1,999.

Apple on Monday launched its new series of MacBook Pro laptops in both 14 and 16-inch display options, promising an upgrade in both design and performance. The 16-inch model (2021) will be available in silver and space gray, with a starting price of $2,499, while the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (2021) starts at $1,999. In India, the 14-inch laptop starts at a price of Rs. 1,94,900 ($2,593 approximately). It is also available for education at Rs. 1,75,410 ($2,334 approximately). The new laptops will be available across the countries from October 26. Whereas the16-inch model starts at Rs. 2,39,900 ($3,192 approximately) for regular customers and Rs. 2,15,910 ($2,873) for education. They are powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chipset. Both chipsets have a 10-core CPU and 16-core (Pro) and 32-core GPU (Max) respectively. Apple has added HDMI, SD card ports back to the MacBook Pro along with MagSafe charging. The new Liquid Retina HDR displays will come with an iPhone-like notch display which has can deliver up to claimed 1,600 nits of peak brightness and feature ProMotion adaptive refresh rate. Also, the camera will have Full HD quality and spatial audio to make them more relevant in the time of video conferencing. The enclosure is entirely aluminium, and Apple says the new cooling system can move “50 per cent more air” than previous MacBooks with quieter fan speeds. The chassis has also received a modern redesign. The device is 4.7 pounds and 16.8mm thick, with a 16.2-inch display. The M1 Pro model supports up to two Pro Display XDRs, and the M1 Max config can handle up to three in addition to a 4K TV. Apple claims the 16-inch Pro will deliver 21 hours of video playback on battery, which is “the longest battery life ever on a Mac notebook”, per the company. According to Apple, it’s the most connectivity we’ve ever seen from a Mac notebook, according to Apple. Apple claims the new processors will be able to offer much more power, but using much less energy than PC processors. The tech giant is claiming that the new MacBook Pros can last up to 10 hours of battery life, more than previous generations. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple launches new MacBook Pro with display notch and ‘powerful’ processors

Apple launched its third-generation AirPods at its ‘Unleash’ event with a redesign, which is similar to the AirPods Pro.

The new Airpods comes with sweat and water-resistant, along with spatial audio. They also come with adaptive EQ as well, which was earlier seen on Apple AirPods Pro as well.

Unlike the earlier model, the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) come with an upgraded design with shorter stems to provide a better grip and improved ergonomics.

The next-generation AirPods also come with a wireless charging case as standard that supports Apple's MagSafe.

In addition to the new AirPods, Apple brought the Apple Music Voice service and new HomePod mini colour options, namely Blue, Orange, and Yellow.

The company is putting a big emphasis on spatial audio and Dolby Atmos music mixes with the new AirPods. They’ll support the same head-tracking capabilities as the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, which also apply when watching video.

Already seen by many as the champion of voice call quality, Apple claims to have further improved microphone performance on the latest AirPods. They “feature AAC-ELD, a superior speech codec that offers full HD voice quality, providing clear, natural communication for FaceTime calls.”

The new AirPods also include a skin-detect sensor that is claimed to help accurately discern if the earbuds are in the ear or in a pocket or on a table and pause playback when removed.

On the battery performance, Apple claims that the AirPods (3rd Generation) can deliver up to six hours of listening time and up to four hours of talk time.

Furthermore, the new AirPods has been claimed to deliver about an hour of battery life in just five minutes of charging. Users will also get 30 hours of total listening time with four additional charges in the case.

The earbuds will&nbsp;be available in more than 26 other countries starting October 26.

In US, the new AirPods will be available at $179, while in India the price has been set at Rs. 18,500 ($246 approximately).

Notably, Apple has not discontinued the AirPods (2nd Generation) as it will be available at a lower price of Rs. 12,900 ($171 approximately) in India and $129 at the US.

<h2>HomePod mini</h2>

Apart from the new AirPods, Apple also brought the HomePod mini in Blue, Orange, and Yellow colours in addition to White and Grey. The new colour options will be available through the Apple Online Store and through retailers in November.

<h2>Apple music service</h2>

Apple also announced new subscription-based music service called ‘Apple Music Voice’ that will available at $4.99 in the US a month, while the Indian users have to shell out Rs 49.

It will be available specifically for users accessing Apple Music using Siri. The new plan will initially be available in 17 countries worldwide, namely Australia, Austria, Canada, China Mainland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, the US, and UK.

It will sit alongside the existing Individual and Family plans and will be available for access across all Apple devices for one user account.

Apple launched its third-generation AirPods at its ‘Unleash’ event with a redesign, which is similar to the AirPods Pro. The new Airpods comes with sweat and water-resistant, along with spatial audio.

Apple launched its third-generation AirPods at its ‘Unleash’ event with a redesign, which is similar to the AirPods Pro. The new Airpods comes with sweat and water-resistant, along with spatial audio. They also come with adaptive EQ as well, which was earlier seen on Apple AirPods Pro as well. Unlike the earlier model, the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) come with an upgraded design with shorter stems to provide a better grip and improved ergonomics. The next-generation AirPods also come with a wireless charging case as standard that supports Apple's MagSafe. In addition to the new AirPods, Apple brought the Apple Music Voice service and new HomePod mini colour options, namely Blue, Orange, and Yellow. The company is putting a big emphasis on spatial audio and Dolby Atmos music mixes with the new AirPods. They’ll support the same head-tracking capabilities as the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, which also apply when watching video. Already seen by many as the champion of voice call quality, Apple claims to have further improved microphone performance on the latest AirPods. They “feature AAC-ELD, a superior speech codec that offers full HD voice quality, providing clear, natural communication for FaceTime calls.” The new AirPods also include a skin-detect sensor that is claimed to help accurately discern if the earbuds are in the ear or in a pocket or on a table and pause playback when removed. On the battery performance, Apple claims that the AirPods (3rd Generation) can deliver up to six hours of listening time and up to four hours of talk time. Furthermore, the new AirPods has been claimed to deliver about an hour of battery life in just five minutes of charging. Users will also get 30 hours of total listening time with four additional charges in the case. The earbuds will be available in more than 26 other countries starting October 26. In US, the new AirPods will be available at $179, while in India the price has been set at Rs. 18,500 ($246 approximately). Notably, Apple has not discontinued the AirPods (2nd Generation) as it will be available at a lower price of Rs. 12,900 ($171 approximately) in India and $129 at the US. HomePod mini Apart from the new AirPods, Apple also brought the HomePod mini in Blue, Orange, and Yellow colours in addition to White and Grey. The new colour options will be available through the Apple Online Store and through retailers in November. Apple music service Apple also announced new subscription-based music service called ‘Apple Music Voice’ that will available at $4.99 in the US a month, while the Indian users have to shell out Rs 49. It will be available specifically for users accessing Apple Music using Siri. The new plan will initially be available in 17 countries worldwide, namely Australia, Austria, Canada, China Mainland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, the US, and UK. It will sit alongside the existing Individual and Family plans and will be available for access across all Apple devices for one user account.

Apple launches 3rd generation AirPods, features spatial audio

Apple has launched two new MacBook Pro models powered by new in-house Apple Silicon chips as well as a new generation of its AirPods wireless earbuds and a $5-per-month music subscription service.

Apple unveils two new MacBook Pro laptops, AirPods and a music streaming service

Analysts expect Apple Inc to unveil new Mac laptop computers with more powerful processor chips at an event that will be streamed later Monday.

Bloomberg has previously reported that Apple plans to release two new MacBook Pro models with 14-inch and 16-inch screens. The Cupertino, California-based company introduced some new laptop models last year that for the first time used its "Apple Silicon" chips, which it said would be phased into the company's desktop and laptop lineup over the course of two years.

Before Monday, Apple's most powerful laptops still relied on chips from Intel Corp. The company has already placed a first generation in-house-designed M1 chip into some MacBooks as well as its Mac Mini and iMac desktop machines, but the new larger MacBook Pro models are expected to feature a second, more powerful generation of the company's chip.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/durian-fruit-triggers-gas-leak-alert-in-canberra-421755">Also read |&nbsp;Durian fruit triggers 'gas leak' alert in Canberra</a>

The new chip, along with a general rise in laptop sales as employees and students stocked up on tech hardware to work and learn from home, prompted a boom in Mac sales during the pandemic. Revenue rose 11 per cent&nbsp;to $28.6 billion in Apple's fiscal 2020, even as iPhone revenue declined 3 per cent.

The expected MacBook Pro introduction comes weeks after Apple overhauled its iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad lineup.

Some analysts believe Apple on Monday will also update its AirPods wireless ear buds, though rumors of an update have circulated ahead of other Apple events this year without coming to pass. Add-on devices like AirPods tend to be large sellers during holiday shopping seasons and have become one of Apple's fastest-growing categories, with its home and accessories segment growing 25 per cent&nbsp;to $30.6 billion in Apple's fiscal 2020.

Analysts expect Apple Inc to unveil new Mac laptop computers with more powerful processor chips at an event that will be streamed later Monday. Bloomberg has previously reported that Apple plans to release two new MacBook Pro models with 14-inch and 16-inch screens.

Analysts expect Apple Inc to unveil new Mac laptop computers with more powerful processor chips at an event that will be streamed later Monday. Bloomberg has previously reported that Apple plans to release two new MacBook Pro models with 14-inch and 16-inch screens. The Cupertino, California-based company introduced some new laptop models last year that for the first time used its "Apple Silicon" chips, which it said would be phased into the company's desktop and laptop lineup over the course of two years. Before Monday, Apple's most powerful laptops still relied on chips from Intel Corp. The company has already placed a first generation in-house-designed M1 chip into some MacBooks as well as its Mac Mini and iMac desktop machines, but the new larger MacBook Pro models are expected to feature a second, more powerful generation of the company's chip. Also read | Durian fruit triggers 'gas leak' alert in Canberra The new chip, along with a general rise in laptop sales as employees and students stocked up on tech hardware to work and learn from home, prompted a boom in Mac sales during the pandemic. Revenue rose 11 per cent to $28.6 billion in Apple's fiscal 2020, even as iPhone revenue declined 3 per cent. The expected MacBook Pro introduction comes weeks after Apple overhauled its iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad lineup. Some analysts believe Apple on Monday will also update its AirPods wireless ear buds, though rumors of an update have circulated ahead of other Apple events this year without coming to pass. Add-on devices like AirPods tend to be large sellers during holiday shopping seasons and have become one of Apple's fastest-growing categories, with its home and accessories segment growing 25 per cent to $30.6 billion in Apple's fiscal 2020.

Apple expected to unveil new Macs with more powerful chips

An employee of Apple who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company was fired.

Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian.

Parrish, who worked at Apple for five years, claims that she was fired for speaking out publicly about "issues within the company".

“I’ve been very vocal, I’ve been very public. I have not been afraid to put my name and attach my face to #AppleToo,” she told the Guardian. “This feels very much like retaliation for having the courage to speak out.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
There are consequences for speaking out. There are consequences for doing the right thing. 
 
But we do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AppleToo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AppleToo</a> is about asking Apple to do better, to end systemic discrimination, abuse, and pay inequity. 
 
Do the right thing. <a href="https://t.co/nhxFlflSvR">https://t.co/nhxFlflSvR</a>
— Janneke Parrish (@JannekeParrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/JannekeParrish/status/1449066853314224129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Apple said Friday it does not discuss specific employee matters.

Recently, Apple has been experiencing other examples of employee unrest. Last month, two employees told Reuters they had filed charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board for alleged retaliation and halting discussion of pay among employees, among other allegations.

Apple has said that it is “deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace” and that it takes “all concerns” from employees seriously.

In September, Parrish said the company had informed her that she was under investigation for leaking information to the media. Parrish had been involved with employee advocacy efforts at Apple for months, but did not leak information, she said.

As part of the investigation, Apple confiscated her devices. Apple encourages employees to use work devices as personal devices, Parrish said, and before handing over devices she deleted files that contained personal information, such as financial data.

Parrish said she did not expect to be fired, but believed her work with #AppleToo would have a negative impact on her career.

(With inputs from agencies)

An employee of Apple who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company was fired. Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian.

An employee of Apple who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company was fired. Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian. Parrish, who worked at Apple for five years, claims that she was fired for speaking out publicly about "issues within the company". “I’ve been very vocal, I’ve been very public. I have not been afraid to put my name and attach my face to #AppleToo,” she told the Guardian. “This feels very much like retaliation for having the courage to speak out.” There are consequences for speaking out. There are consequences for doing the right thing. But we do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. #AppleToo is about asking Apple to do better, to end systemic discrimination, abuse, and pay inequity. Do the right thing. https://t.co/nhxFlflSvR — Janneke Parrish (@JannekeParrish) October 15, 2021 × Apple said Friday it does not discuss specific employee matters. Recently, Apple has been experiencing other examples of employee unrest. Last month, two employees told Reuters they had filed charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board for alleged retaliation and halting discussion of pay among employees, among other allegations. Apple has said that it is “deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace” and that it takes “all concerns” from employees seriously. In September, Parrish said the company had informed her that she was under investigation for leaking information to the media. Parrish had been involved with employee advocacy efforts at Apple for months, but did not leak information, she said. As part of the investigation, Apple confiscated her devices. Apple encourages employees to use work devices as personal devices, Parrish said, and before handing over devices she deleted files that contained personal information, such as financial data. Parrish said she did not expect to be fired, but believed her work with #AppleToo would have a negative impact on her career. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple fires employee who led movement against racism & sexism

On the request of officials, Apple has deleted one of the world's most popular Quran apps in China from its store. &nbsp;

The app, which is called Quran Majeed, is available across the world on the App Store. It has nearly 150,000 reviews and is used by millions of Muslims. &nbsp;

It seems to have been removed for hosting illegal religious texts, as per a BBC report. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/evergrande-risks-controllable-says-chinas-central-bank-420980" hreflang="en">Evergrande risks 'controllable', says China's central bank</a>

The app’s deletion was first noticed by Apple Censorship, a website, which monitors the apps available on Apple's App Store globally. &nbsp;

In a statement, the app's maker, PDMS, said, "According to Apple, our app Quran Majeed has been removed from the China App store because it includes content that requires additional documentation from Chinese authorities." &nbsp;

"We are trying to get in touch with the Cyberspace Administration of China and relevant Chinese authorities to get this issue resolved," added the company. &nbsp;

As per the app's maker, it had around one million users in China. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-images-show-china-has-upgraded-military-bases-facing-taiwan-420955" hreflang="en">Satellite images show China has upgraded military bases facing Taiwan</a>

Meanwhile, an employee of Apple, who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company, was fired. &nbsp;

Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian. &nbsp;

Parrish, who worked at Apple for five years, claims that she was fired for speaking out publicly about "issues within the company". &nbsp;

“I’ve been very vocal, I’ve been very public. I have not been afraid to put my name and attach my face to #AppleToo,” she told the Guardian. “This feels very much like retaliation for having the courage to speak out.” &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

On the request of officials, Apple has deleted one of the world's most popular Quran apps in China from its store. The app, which is called Quran Majeed, is available across the world on the App Store.

On the request of officials, Apple has deleted one of the world's most popular Quran apps in China from its store. The app, which is called Quran Majeed, is available across the world on the App Store. It has nearly 150,000 reviews and is used by millions of Muslims. It seems to have been removed for hosting illegal religious texts, as per a BBC report. Also Read: Evergrande risks 'controllable', says China's central bank The app’s deletion was first noticed by Apple Censorship, a website, which monitors the apps available on Apple's App Store globally. In a statement, the app's maker, PDMS, said, "According to Apple, our app Quran Majeed has been removed from the China App store because it includes content that requires additional documentation from Chinese authorities." "We are trying to get in touch with the Cyberspace Administration of China and relevant Chinese authorities to get this issue resolved," added the company. As per the app's maker, it had around one million users in China. Also Read: Satellite images show China has upgraded military bases facing Taiwan Meanwhile, an employee of Apple, who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company, was fired. Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian. Parrish, who worked at Apple for five years, claims that she was fired for speaking out publicly about "issues within the company". “I’ve been very vocal, I’ve been very public. I have not been afraid to put my name and attach my face to #AppleToo,” she told the Guardian. “This feels very much like retaliation for having the courage to speak out.” (With inputs from agencies)

After officials’ request, Apple pulls down Quran app in China

Apple is likely to cut down production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units due to the global chip shortage. Reports said the company was expected to produce 90 million units of the new iPhone models by the end of this year and the company has told its manufacturers that the number of units would be lower because chip suppliers including broadcom and texas instruments that are struggling to deliver components.

Apple to cut down production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units

Apple likely cut down production of its iPhone 13

Apple Inc&nbsp;is likely to slash production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units due to the global chip shortage, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The company was expected to produce 90 million units of the new iPhone models by the end of this year, according to Bloomberg. The reportsaid Apple told its manufacturers that the number of units would be lower because chip suppliers including Broadcom Inc and Texas Instruments are struggling to deliver components.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-set-to-launch-pixel-pass-subscription-inspired-by-apple-one-419898">Google set to launch 'Pixel Pass' subscription inspired by Apple one</a>

Shares of Apple fell 1.2 per cent&nbsp;in after-hours trading, while Texas Instruments and Broadcom were both down about 1 per cent. 
 
Watch | Apple to cut down production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units

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Apple declined to comment. Broadcom and Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

In July, Apple forecast slowing revenue growth and said the chip shortage, which had started hitting its ability to sell Macs and iPads, would also crimp iPhone production. Texas Instruments also gave a soft revenue outlook that month, hinting on chip supply concerns for the rest of the year. read more

The chip crunch has put immense pressure on industries from automobiles to electronics, leading many automakers to temporarily suspend production.

With its massive purchasing power and long-term supply agreements with chip vendors, Apple has weathered the supply crunch better than many other companies, leading some analysts to forecast that iPhone 13 models released in September would have a strong sales year as consumers looked to upgrade devices for 5G networks.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nyc-security-guard-stabbed-over-mask-dispute-at-apple-store-419632">NYC: Security guard stabbed over mask dispute at Apple store</a>

Jeff Fieldhack, research director for Counterpoint Research, said the reported Apple production cut could also be part of the iPhone maker's normal launch process of over-ordering devices to be prepared for an initial customer rush and then trimming orders as sales trends become clearer.

Fieldhack said iPhone 13 sales appear to be healthy and higher than last year's iPhone 12, and Counterpoint is not changing its estimate of 85 million to 90 million iPhone 13 sales for the fourth quarter.

Apple Inc is likely to slash production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units due to the global chip shortage, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Apple Inc is likely to slash production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units due to the global chip shortage, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company was expected to produce 90 million units of the new iPhone models by the end of this year, according to Bloomberg. The reportsaid Apple told its manufacturers that the number of units would be lower because chip suppliers including Broadcom Inc and Texas Instruments are struggling to deliver components. Also Read | Google set to launch 'Pixel Pass' subscription inspired by Apple one Shares of Apple fell 1.2 per cent in after-hours trading, while Texas Instruments and Broadcom were both down about 1 per cent. Watch | Apple to cut down production of its iPhone 13 by as many as 10 million units Apple declined to comment. Broadcom and Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. In July, Apple forecast slowing revenue growth and said the chip shortage, which had started hitting its ability to sell Macs and iPads, would also crimp iPhone production. Texas Instruments also gave a soft revenue outlook that month, hinting on chip supply concerns for the rest of the year. read more The chip crunch has put immense pressure on industries from automobiles to electronics, leading many automakers to temporarily suspend production. With its massive purchasing power and long-term supply agreements with chip vendors, Apple has weathered the supply crunch better than many other companies, leading some analysts to forecast that iPhone 13 models released in September would have a strong sales year as consumers looked to upgrade devices for 5G networks. Also Read | NYC: Security guard stabbed over mask dispute at Apple store Jeff Fieldhack, research director for Counterpoint Research, said the reported Apple production cut could also be part of the iPhone maker's normal launch process of over-ordering devices to be prepared for an initial customer rush and then trimming orders as sales trends become clearer. Fieldhack said iPhone 13 sales appear to be healthy and higher than last year's iPhone 12, and Counterpoint is not changing its estimate of 85 million to 90 million iPhone 13 sales for the fourth quarter.

Apple likely to cut down iPhone 13 production. Here’s why?

A 37-year-old security guard at an Apple store in New York City was reportedly stabbed on Friday evening by a male customer over a dispute on the store’s masking policy, says police.&nbsp;

As per reports by ABC7 New York, the guard was stabbed multiple times around 6:30 pm after a customer was told that masks had to be worn if he wanted to go inside. After the man refused to wear the mask, the interaction turned into an act of violence.&nbsp; 
By the time the police arrives, the suspect had left the crime scene.&nbsp;

As per preliminary information, the name of the suspect is not known. Police believe he was wearing blue jeans, a black mask and a black shirt.

Detective Sophia Mason, a spokesperson for the Office of Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said that the guard told police that "he was stabbed one time in the left arm and one time in the forehead with a knife."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-appeals-verdict-in-app-store-battle-with-epic-games-419396">Also read |&nbsp;Apple appeals verdict in App Store battle with Epic Games</a>

The guard was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries.&nbsp;

Kimberly, a woman who works nearby and knew the security guard in passing was quoted by NBC New York as saying, "I saw him coming out on the stretcher, and I was like, ouch." 
She further said, "Everybody was in a big commotion, crying. Everyone was in shock."

The store closed early that day as employees spoke to police officers investigating the incident and collected evidence. Workers with a cleaning company arrived later Friday night to clean the trail of blood.&nbsp;

The investigation is ongoing but no one has been arrested as of now.

A 37-year-old security guard at an Apple store in New York City was reportedly stabbed on Friday evening by a male customer over a dispute on the store’s masking policy, says police.

A 37-year-old security guard at an Apple store in New York City was reportedly stabbed on Friday evening by a male customer over a dispute on the store’s masking policy, says police. As per reports by ABC7 New York, the guard was stabbed multiple times around 6:30 pm after a customer was told that masks had to be worn if he wanted to go inside. After the man refused to wear the mask, the interaction turned into an act of violence. By the time the police arrives, the suspect had left the crime scene. As per preliminary information, the name of the suspect is not known. Police believe he was wearing blue jeans, a black mask and a black shirt. Detective Sophia Mason, a spokesperson for the Office of Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said that the guard told police that "he was stabbed one time in the left arm and one time in the forehead with a knife." Also read | Apple appeals verdict in App Store battle with Epic Games The guard was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries. Kimberly, a woman who works nearby and knew the security guard in passing was quoted by NBC New York as saying, "I saw him coming out on the stretcher, and I was like, ouch." She further said, "Everybody was in a big commotion, crying. Everyone was in shock." The store closed early that day as employees spoke to police officers investigating the incident and collected evidence. Workers with a cleaning company arrived later Friday night to clean the trail of blood. The investigation is ongoing but no one has been arrested as of now.

NYC: Security guard stabbed over mask dispute at Apple store

Apple on Friday appealed a federal judge's verdict in its legal battle with Fortnite-maker Epic Games over control of the App Store.

Apple is asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to overturn the 185-page ruling by US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers.

The judge ordered Apple to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Epic failed to prove any antitrust violations.

Epic last month filed its own appeal.

"We will fight on", Epic chief executive Tim Sweeney tweeted when the company confirmed its plan to contest the verdict.

Apple said in the days after the ruling by Gonzalez-Rogers that it was "very happy" with the decision but had left open the door to appeal.

The companies had opted for a so-called bench trial in which a judge rather that a jury hears the evidence and decides on a verdict.

Epic launched the case aiming to break Apple's grip on the App Store, accusing the iPhone maker of acting like a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services.

"For me, it is a win for Apple in that the judge clearly said they are not engaging in monopolistic behavior," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said after the verdict.

"I don't think it is a problem for Apple from a revenue perspective."

The judge barred Apple from prohibiting developers from including in their apps "external links or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms."

Apple can still mandate that its payment systems is used for in-app transactions.

Apple on Friday appealed a federal judge's verdict in its legal battle with Fortnite-maker Epic Games over control of the App Store. Apple is asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to overturn the 185-page ruling by US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers.

Apple on Friday appealed a federal judge's verdict in its legal battle with Fortnite-maker Epic Games over control of the App Store. Apple is asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to overturn the 185-page ruling by US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers. The judge ordered Apple to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Epic failed to prove any antitrust violations. Epic last month filed its own appeal. "We will fight on", Epic chief executive Tim Sweeney tweeted when the company confirmed its plan to contest the verdict. Apple said in the days after the ruling by Gonzalez-Rogers that it was "very happy" with the decision but had left open the door to appeal. The companies had opted for a so-called bench trial in which a judge rather that a jury hears the evidence and decides on a verdict. Epic launched the case aiming to break Apple's grip on the App Store, accusing the iPhone maker of acting like a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services. "For me, it is a win for Apple in that the judge clearly said they are not engaging in monopolistic behavior," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said after the verdict. "I don't think it is a problem for Apple from a revenue perspective." The judge barred Apple from prohibiting developers from including in their apps "external links or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms." Apple can still mandate that its payment systems is used for in-app transactions.

Apple appeals verdict in App Store battle with Epic Games

According to sources, tech giant Apple will be hit with a European Union antitrust charge over its NFC chip technology. Apple could possibly be hit with a hefty fine and could also force it to open its mobile payment systems to rivals. Sources say, EU's competition enforcer is preparing a charge sheet known as a statement of objections, which could be sent to apple next year. The commission can fine companies up to 10% of their global turnover for violating EU rules. Based on Apple's 2020 revenue, the fine could go up to 27.4 billion dollars.

Tech giant Apple to be hit with European Union antitrust charge over its NFC chip technology

According to the sources, Apple will be hit with an EU antitrust charge over its NFC chip technology. A move that puts it at risk of a possible hefty fine and could force it to open its mobile payment system to rivals.

Sources: Apple to be hit with EU antitrust charge over NFC chip

Google has hit back against the European Union in court appealing a $5 billion antitrust fine. The European Commission has levied a record fine on Google in 2018 for monopolistic practices.

Google fights against record EU fine, slams regulators for ignoring Apple

In what may result in possible shortages of smartphones and other goods soon, power cuts to meet government energy use targets have forced Chinese factories to shut down. Some homes are also facing the brunt. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;

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During one of the busiest seasons, the disruption to China's manufacturing industries reflects the Communist Party's struggle to balance economic growth with efforts to check pollution. &nbsp;

In a report on Monday, Nomura economists Ting Lu, Lisheng Wang and Jing Wang, said, "Beijing's unprecedented resolve in enforcing energy consumption limits could result in long-term benefits, but the short-term economic costs are substantial." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-unveils-new-guidelines-for-womens-development-announces-to-reduce-non-medical-abortions-416442" hreflang="en">China unveils new guidelines for women’s development, announces to reduce non-medical abortions</a>

Under orders from local authorities, Apple Inc's iPhones’ components supplier said it suspended production at a factory, which is situated west of Shanghai. &nbsp;

Apple components supplier Eson Precision Engineering Co Ltd said on Sunday, it would halt production at its factory in Kunshan, west of Shanghai, through Thursday "in line with the local government's power restriction policy." Eson said the suspension shouldn't have a 'significant impact' on operations. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-installs-new-shelters-for-troops-near-indias-ladakh-border-416417" hreflang="en">China installs new shelters for troops near India's Ladakh border</a>

The manufacturers have been already facing shortages of processor chips, disruptions in shipping and other effects of the global shutdown of travel and trade in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what may result in possible shortages of smartphones and other goods soon, power cuts to meet government energy use targets have forced Chinese factories to shut down.

In what may result in possible shortages of smartphones and other goods soon, power cuts to meet government energy use targets have forced Chinese factories to shut down. Some homes are also facing the brunt. Watch: × During one of the busiest seasons, the disruption to China's manufacturing industries reflects the Communist Party's struggle to balance economic growth with efforts to check pollution. In a report on Monday, Nomura economists Ting Lu, Lisheng Wang and Jing Wang, said, "Beijing's unprecedented resolve in enforcing energy consumption limits could result in long-term benefits, but the short-term economic costs are substantial." Also Read: China unveils new guidelines for women’s development, announces to reduce non-medical abortions Under orders from local authorities, Apple Inc's iPhones’ components supplier said it suspended production at a factory, which is situated west of Shanghai. Apple components supplier Eson Precision Engineering Co Ltd said on Sunday, it would halt production at its factory in Kunshan, west of Shanghai, through Thursday "in line with the local government's power restriction policy." Eson said the suspension shouldn't have a 'significant impact' on operations. Also Read: China installs new shelters for troops near India's Ladakh border The manufacturers have been already facing shortages of processor chips, disruptions in shipping and other effects of the global shutdown of travel and trade in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. (With inputs from agencies)

Power cuts in China force supplier’s factories, homes to stay in dark  

Are you forced to carry different cables to charge your devices? What if you could charge everything with one charger? The European Union is proposing legislation for universal chargers. Palki Sharma tells you why this is bad news for companies like Apple.

Gravitas US Edition: One cable to charge all devices: EU mulls a new law

Apple&nbsp;Inc will pay one-time bonuses of as much as $1,000 to store employees next month, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The company will give out $1,000 to retail staff hired before Mar. 31, while those who joined later will get $500, the report said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-issues-emergency-security-updates-to-close-a-spyware-flaw-413956">Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;Apple issues emergency security updates to close a spyware flaw</a>

New employees for the holiday shopping season will receive $200 and bonuses will also be handed out to&nbsp;AppleCare and online sales staff, the report added.

Apple&nbsp;did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The company's retail chief told Reuters in June that&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;was expanding its retail operations, betting that a combination of strategies developed before and during COVID-19 will make its stores more popular than ever.

Apple Inc will pay one-time bonuses of as much as $1,000 to store employees next month, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Apple Inc will pay one-time bonuses of as much as $1,000 to store employees next month, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company will give out $1,000 to retail staff hired before Mar. 31, while those who joined later will get $500, the report said. Also read | Apple issues emergency security updates to close a spyware flaw New employees for the holiday shopping season will receive $200 and bonuses will also be handed out to AppleCare and online sales staff, the report added. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The company's retail chief told Reuters in June that Apple was expanding its retail operations, betting that a combination of strategies developed before and during COVID-19 will make its stores more popular than ever.

Apple to pay bonuses of up to $1,000 to store employees

The European Commission is due to present a legislative proposal on Thursday for a common charger for mobile phones, tablets and headphones, reported Reuters mentioning a person familiar with the matter. Such a move is likely to affect iPhone maker Apple more than its rivals.

The European Union executive and EU lawmakers have been pushing for a common charger for over a decade, saying it would be better for the environment and more convenient for users.

The Commission wants the sale of chargers to be decoupled from devices, and also propose a harmonised charging port, the person said.

Apple, whose iPhones are charged from its Lightning cable, has said rules forcing connectors to conform to one type could deter innovation, create a mountain of electronic waste and irk consumers.

Rival Android-based devices are charged using USB-C connectors. Half the chargers sold with mobile phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, according to a 2019 Commission study.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Commission is due to present a legislative proposal on Thursday for a common charger for mobile phones, tablets and headphones, reported Reuters mentioning a person familiar with the matter.

The European Commission is due to present a legislative proposal on Thursday for a common charger for mobile phones, tablets and headphones, reported Reuters mentioning a person familiar with the matter. Such a move is likely to affect iPhone maker Apple more than its rivals. The European Union executive and EU lawmakers have been pushing for a common charger for over a decade, saying it would be better for the environment and more convenient for users. The Commission wants the sale of chargers to be decoupled from devices, and also propose a harmonised charging port, the person said. Apple, whose iPhones are charged from its Lightning cable, has said rules forcing connectors to conform to one type could deter innovation, create a mountain of electronic waste and irk consumers. Rival Android-based devices are charged using USB-C connectors. Half the chargers sold with mobile phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, according to a 2019 Commission study. (With inputs from agencies)

EU to present proposal for common phone chargers despite Apple's displeasure

The global dominance of tech giants serves as a convenient online chokepoint for authoritarian governments to crack down on dissent or rig elections, critics of Apple and Google said Friday.

The companies were facing international outrage after pulling a Russian opposition voting app off their online marketplaces in response to authorities' escalating pressure, including arrest threats.

Google and Apple, whose operating systems run on 99 percent of the world's smartphones, have a stranglehold on the markets for the applications that allow users to do everything from watch movies to hail a ride.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/china-cracks-down-on-tech-titans-billionaire-loses-27-billion-in-worlds-biggest-wealth-drop-413853" hreflang="en">China cracks down on tech titans: Billionaire loses $27 billion in world's biggest wealth drop</a>

"The app stores are the new frontier for censorship," Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel at rights group Access Now told AFP. "We're witnessing a new stage of assault on digital rights."

The companies face a growing pile of new legislation, legal trouble and regulators scrutiny over worries their dominance is a competition-killing monopoly.

Concerns recently had been about consumers' choice and app developers ability to avoid paying Apple an up to 30 percent cut on purchases made via its App Store.

But after an app advising opposition supporters on how to vote out Kremlin allies in Russia's parliamentary election was removed from the app stores of both Apple and Google, advocates warned of another threat.

"As long as Apple maintains a stranglehold over what software millions of people (use)... the App Store will continue to be a convenient chokepoint for government censorship and crackdowns on dissent," said Evan Greer, director of digital advocacy group Fight for the Future.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/safe-and-easy-microsoft-announces-passwordless-account-for-users-413771" hreflang="en">Safe and easy: Microsoft announces 'passwordless account' for users</a>

The digital world has been an incubator for opposition from the Arab Spring to Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests by giving people a way to communicate and organize movements rapidly.

Yet that same technology can be turned against people, as was demonstrated by the scandal around Pegasus, a hugely invasive spyware that can essentially turn a phone into a pocket listening device.&nbsp;

Limits of Big Tech

Allegations that the software has been used by governments worldwide to eavesdrop on human rights activists, business executives and politicians sparked a global uproar in July.

In the case of Russia, pressure has been building after Moscow accused the US tech giants of election interference and demanded they remove the app.

"This demonstrates the limits of Big Tech to resist crackdowns with regards to dissent, in Russia and elsewhere, during elections and outside them," said David Levine, an election integrity fellow at think tank Alliance for Securing Democracy.

Sources close to the decision to pull the opposition app said both companies faced threats of criminal charges or the jailing of staff and general "bullying" from authorities.

Levine noted this type of escalating pressure could become a "page in the playbook" for repressive governments.

The firms are for-profit, yet because of their global reach and key role in mass communication, can end up being called on to combat hate, lies and repression on their devices or platforms.

As a result, Big Tech can and will get entangled in these type of fights on delicate matters with the governments of places where they do business.

"Giant IT companies are going to have to think about how they operate in these markets, like how far they'll go in terms of complying and cutting off the freedom of people to see things," said Kathryn Stoner, a Stanford political science professor.

Especially for social media companies like Facebook, the role of information gatekeeper is one that the firms have played with widely varying outcomes.

The case in Russia, though, has resonated in particular because it touches on something deeply personal, which also has tremendous consequences.

"This is the government going into your house and saying you cannot talk about voting against us," Isabel Linzer, a Research analyst at NGO Freedom House, said.

"That is as much election interference as it would be to go and stuff a ballot box," she added.

The global dominance of tech giants serves as a convenient online chokepoint for authoritarian governments to crack down on dissent or rig elections, critics of Apple and Google said Friday.

The global dominance of tech giants serves as a convenient online chokepoint for authoritarian governments to crack down on dissent or rig elections, critics of Apple and Google said Friday. The companies were facing international outrage after pulling a Russian opposition voting app off their online marketplaces in response to authorities' escalating pressure, including arrest threats. Google and Apple, whose operating systems run on 99 percent of the world's smartphones, have a stranglehold on the markets for the applications that allow users to do everything from watch movies to hail a ride. Also read | China cracks down on tech titans: Billionaire loses $27 billion in world's biggest wealth drop "The app stores are the new frontier for censorship," Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel at rights group Access Now told AFP. "We're witnessing a new stage of assault on digital rights." The companies face a growing pile of new legislation, legal trouble and regulators scrutiny over worries their dominance is a competition-killing monopoly. Concerns recently had been about consumers' choice and app developers ability to avoid paying Apple an up to 30 percent cut on purchases made via its App Store. But after an app advising opposition supporters on how to vote out Kremlin allies in Russia's parliamentary election was removed from the app stores of both Apple and Google, advocates warned of another threat. "As long as Apple maintains a stranglehold over what software millions of people (use)... the App Store will continue to be a convenient chokepoint for government censorship and crackdowns on dissent," said Evan Greer, director of digital advocacy group Fight for the Future. Also read | Safe and easy: Microsoft announces 'passwordless account' for users The digital world has been an incubator for opposition from the Arab Spring to Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests by giving people a way to communicate and organize movements rapidly. Yet that same technology can be turned against people, as was demonstrated by the scandal around Pegasus, a hugely invasive spyware that can essentially turn a phone into a pocket listening device. Limits of Big Tech Allegations that the software has been used by governments worldwide to eavesdrop on human rights activists, business executives and politicians sparked a global uproar in July. In the case of Russia, pressure has been building after Moscow accused the US tech giants of election interference and demanded they remove the app. "This demonstrates the limits of Big Tech to resist crackdowns with regards to dissent, in Russia and elsewhere, during elections and outside them," said David Levine, an election integrity fellow at think tank Alliance for Securing Democracy. Sources close to the decision to pull the opposition app said both companies faced threats of criminal charges or the jailing of staff and general "bullying" from authorities. Levine noted this type of escalating pressure could become a "page in the playbook" for repressive governments. The firms are for-profit, yet because of their global reach and key role in mass communication, can end up being called on to combat hate, lies and repression on their devices or platforms. As a result, Big Tech can and will get entangled in these type of fights on delicate matters with the governments of places where they do business. "Giant IT companies are going to have to think about how they operate in these markets, like how far they'll go in terms of complying and cutting off the freedom of people to see things," said Kathryn Stoner, a Stanford political science professor. Especially for social media companies like Facebook, the role of information gatekeeper is one that the firms have played with widely varying outcomes. The case in Russia, though, has resonated in particular because it touches on something deeply personal, which also has tremendous consequences. "This is the government going into your house and saying you cannot talk about voting against us," Isabel Linzer, a Research analyst at NGO Freedom House, said. "That is as much election interference as it would be to go and stuff a ballot box," she added.

Critics warn of Apple, Google 'chokepoint' repression

Apple issued emergency software updates for a critical vulnerability in its products on Monday after security researchers uncovered a flaw that allows highly invasive spyware from Israel’s NSO Group to infect anyone’s iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac computer without so much as a click.

Apple’s security team had worked around the clock to develop a fix since Tuesday, after researchers at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity watchdog organisation at the University of Toronto, discovered that a Saudi activist’s iPhone had been infected with an advanced form of spyware from NSO.

The spyware, called Pegasus, used a novel method to invisibly infect Apple devices without victims’ knowledge. Known as a “zero click remote exploit,” it is considered the holy grail of surveillance because it allows governments, mercenaries and criminals to secretly break into someone’s device without tipping the victim off.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/whats-the-difference-netizens-wonder-as-new-iphone-13-is-almost-like-iphone-12-413210" hreflang="en">What's the difference? Netizens wonder as new iPhone 13 is almost like iPhone 12</a>

Using the zero-click infection method, Pegasus can turn on a user’s camera and microphone, record messages, texts, emails, calls — even those sent via encrypted messaging and phone apps like Signal — and send them back to NSO’s clients at governments around the world.

“This spyware can do everything an iPhone user can do on their device and more,” said John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, who teamed up with Bill Marczak, a senior research fellow at Citizen Lab, on the finding.

The discovery means that more than 1.65 billion Apple products in use worldwide have been vulnerable to NSO’s spyware since at least March. It signals a serious escalation in the cybersecurity arms race, with governments willing to pay whatever it takes to spy on digital communications en masse, and with tech companies, human rights activists and others racing to uncover and fix the latest vulnerabilities that enable such surveillance.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/smart-glasses-made-google-look-dumb-now-facebook-is-giving-them-a-try-413629" hreflang="en">Smart glasses made google look dumb. Now Facebook is giving them a try.</a>

In the past, victims learned their devices were infected by spyware only after receiving a suspicious link texted to their phone or email, and sharing the link with journalists or cybersecurity experts. But NSO’s zero-click capability meant victims received no such prompt, and the flaw enabled full access to a person’s digital life. Such abilities can fetch millions of dollars on the underground market for hacking tools, where governments are not regulators but are clients and are among the most lucrative spenders.

On Monday, Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture commended Citizen Lab for its findings and urged customers to run the latest software updates for the fixes to take effect, by installing iOS 14.8, MacOS 11.6 and WatchOS 7.6.2.

“Attacks like the ones described are highly sophisticated, cost millions of dollars to develop, often have a short shelf life and are used to target specific individuals,” Krstić said.

Apple has said it plans to introduce new security defenses for iMessage, Apple’s texting application, in its next iOS 15 software update, expected later this year.

NSO did not immediately respond to inquiries Monday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/will-india-bite-into-apples-new-offerings-413241" hreflang="en">Will India bite into Apple's new offerings?</a>

NSO has long drawn controversy. The company has said that it sells its spyware only to governments that meet strict human rights standards and that it expressly requires customers to agree to use its spyware only to track terrorists or criminals.

But over the past six years, NSO’s Pegasus spyware has turned up on the phones of activists, dissidents, lawyers, doctors, nutritionists and even children in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico.

Starting in 2016, a series of New York Times investigations revealed the presence of NSO’s spyware on the iPhones of Emirati activists lobbying for expanded voting rights; Mexican nutritionists lobbying for a national soda tax; lawyers looking into the mass disappearance of 43 Mexican students; academics who helped write anti-corruption legislation; journalists in Mexico and England; and an American representing victims of sexual abuse by Mexico’s police.

In July, NSO became the subject of further scrutiny after Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog, and Forbidden Stories, a group that focuses on free speech, teamed up with a consortium of media organisations on “The Pegasus Project” to publish a list of 50,000 phone numbers, including some used by journalists, government leaders, dissidents and activists, that they said had been selected as targets by NSO’s clients.

The consortium did not disclose how it had obtained the list, and it was unclear whether the list was aspirational or whether the people had actually been targeted with NSO spyware.

Among those listed were Azam Ahmed, who had been the Mexico City bureau chief for The Times and who has reported widely on corruption, violence and surveillance in Latin America, including on NSO itself; and Ben Hubbard, The Times’ bureau chief in Beirut, who has investigated rights abuses and corruption in Saudi Arabia and wrote a recent biography of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It also included 14 heads of state, including President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt, Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan, Saad-Eddine El Othmani, who until recently was the prime minister of Morocco, and Charles Michel, the head of the European Council.

Shalev Hulio, a co-founder of NSO Group, vehemently denied the list’s accuracy, telling The Times, “This is like opening up the white pages, choosing 50,000 numbers and drawing some conclusion from it.”

This year marks a record for the discovery of so-called zero days, secret software flaws like the one that NSO used to install its spyware. This year, Chinese hackers were caught using zero days in Microsoft Exchange to steal emails and plant ransomware. In July, ransomware criminals used a zero day in software sold by the tech company Kaseya to bring down the networks of some 1,000 companies.

For years, the spyware industry has been a black box. Sales of spyware are locked up in nondisclosure agreements and are frequently rolled into classified programs, with limited, if any, oversight.

NSO’s clients previously infected their targets using text messages that cajoled victims into clicking on links. Those links made it possible for journalists and researchers at organisations like Citizen Lab to investigate the possible presence of spyware. But NSO’s new zero-click method makes the discovery of spyware by journalists and cybersecurity researchers much harder.

“The commercial spyware industry is going darker,” said Marczak, the Citizen Lab researcher.

Marczak said he was first approached by the Saudi activist in March. But it was only last week that he was able to parse evidence from the activist’s phone and uncover digital crumbs similar to those on the iPhones of other Pegasus targets.

Marczak said he found that the Saudi activist, who declined to be identified, had received an image. That image, which was invisible to the user, exploited a vulnerability in the way that Apple processes images and allowed the Pegasus spyware to be quietly downloaded onto Apple devices. With the victim none the wiser, his or her most sensitive communications, data and passwords were siphoned off to servers at intelligence and law-enforcement agencies around the globe.

Citizen Lab said the scale and scope of the operation was unclear. Marczak said, based on the timing of his discovery of Pegasus on the Saudi activist’s iPhone and other iPhones in March, it was safe to say the spyware had been siphoning data from Apple devices for at least six months.

The zero-click exploit, which Citizen Lab dubbed “Forcedentry,” was among the most sophisticated exploits discovered by forensics researchers. In 2019, researchers uncovered that a similar NSO zero-click exploit had been deployed against 1,400 users of WhatsApp, the Facebook messaging service. Last year, Citizen Lab found a digital trail suggesting NSO may have a zero-click exploit to read Apple iMessages, but researchers never discovered the full exploit.

NSO was long suspected of having a zero-click capability. A 2015 hack of one of NSO’s chief competitors, Hacking Team, a Milan-based spyware outfit, revealed emails showing Hacking Team executives scrambling to match a remote, zero-click exploit that its customers claimed NSO had developed. That same year, a Times reporter obtained NSO marketing materials for prospective new clients that mentioned a remote, zero-click capability.

Proof of the capability never turned up.

“Today was the proof,” Marczak said.

orcedentry was the first time that researchers successfully recovered a full, zero-click exploit on the phones of activists and dissidents. When such discoveries are revealed, governments and cybercriminals typically try to exploit vulnerable systems before users have a chance to patch them, making timely patching critical.

Scott-Railton urged Apple customers to run their software updates immediately.

“Do you own an Apple product? Update it today,” he said.

Apple issued emergency software updates for a critical vulnerability in its products on Monday after security researchers uncovered a flaw that allows highly invasive spyware from Israel’s NSO Group to infect anyone’s iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac computer without so much as a click.

Apple issued emergency software updates for a critical vulnerability in its products on Monday after security researchers uncovered a flaw that allows highly invasive spyware from Israel’s NSO Group to infect anyone’s iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac computer without so much as a click. Apple’s security team had worked around the clock to develop a fix since Tuesday, after researchers at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity watchdog organisation at the University of Toronto, discovered that a Saudi activist’s iPhone had been infected with an advanced form of spyware from NSO. The spyware, called Pegasus, used a novel method to invisibly infect Apple devices without victims’ knowledge. Known as a “zero click remote exploit,” it is considered the holy grail of surveillance because it allows governments, mercenaries and criminals to secretly break into someone’s device without tipping the victim off. Also read | What's the difference? Netizens wonder as new iPhone 13 is almost like iPhone 12 Using the zero-click infection method, Pegasus can turn on a user’s camera and microphone, record messages, texts, emails, calls — even those sent via encrypted messaging and phone apps like Signal — and send them back to NSO’s clients at governments around the world. “This spyware can do everything an iPhone user can do on their device and more,” said John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, who teamed up with Bill Marczak, a senior research fellow at Citizen Lab, on the finding. The discovery means that more than 1.65 billion Apple products in use worldwide have been vulnerable to NSO’s spyware since at least March. It signals a serious escalation in the cybersecurity arms race, with governments willing to pay whatever it takes to spy on digital communications en masse, and with tech companies, human rights activists and others racing to uncover and fix the latest vulnerabilities that enable such surveillance. Also read | Smart glasses made google look dumb. Now Facebook is giving them a try. In the past, victims learned their devices were infected by spyware only after receiving a suspicious link texted to their phone or email, and sharing the link with journalists or cybersecurity experts. But NSO’s zero-click capability meant victims received no such prompt, and the flaw enabled full access to a person’s digital life. Such abilities can fetch millions of dollars on the underground market for hacking tools, where governments are not regulators but are clients and are among the most lucrative spenders. On Monday, Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture commended Citizen Lab for its findings and urged customers to run the latest software updates for the fixes to take effect, by installing iOS 14.8, MacOS 11.6 and WatchOS 7.6.2. “Attacks like the ones described are highly sophisticated, cost millions of dollars to develop, often have a short shelf life and are used to target specific individuals,” Krstić said. Apple has said it plans to introduce new security defenses for iMessage, Apple’s texting application, in its next iOS 15 software update, expected later this year. NSO did not immediately respond to inquiries Monday. Also read | Will India bite into Apple's new offerings? NSO has long drawn controversy. The company has said that it sells its spyware only to governments that meet strict human rights standards and that it expressly requires customers to agree to use its spyware only to track terrorists or criminals. But over the past six years, NSO’s Pegasus spyware has turned up on the phones of activists, dissidents, lawyers, doctors, nutritionists and even children in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. Starting in 2016, a series of New York Times investigations revealed the presence of NSO’s spyware on the iPhones of Emirati activists lobbying for expanded voting rights; Mexican nutritionists lobbying for a national soda tax; lawyers looking into the mass disappearance of 43 Mexican students; academics who helped write anti-corruption legislation; journalists in Mexico and England; and an American representing victims of sexual abuse by Mexico’s police. In July, NSO became the subject of further scrutiny after Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog, and Forbidden Stories, a group that focuses on free speech, teamed up with a consortium of media organisations on “The Pegasus Project” to publish a list of 50,000 phone numbers, including some used by journalists, government leaders, dissidents and activists, that they said had been selected as targets by NSO’s clients. The consortium did not disclose how it had obtained the list, and it was unclear whether the list was aspirational or whether the people had actually been targeted with NSO spyware. Among those listed were Azam Ahmed, who had been the Mexico City bureau chief for The Times and who has reported widely on corruption, violence and surveillance in Latin America, including on NSO itself; and Ben Hubbard, The Times’ bureau chief in Beirut, who has investigated rights abuses and corruption in Saudi Arabia and wrote a recent biography of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It also included 14 heads of state, including President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt, Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan, Saad-Eddine El Othmani, who until recently was the prime minister of Morocco, and Charles Michel, the head of the European Council. Shalev Hulio, a co-founder of NSO Group, vehemently denied the list’s accuracy, telling The Times, “This is like opening up the white pages, choosing 50,000 numbers and drawing some conclusion from it.” This year marks a record for the discovery of so-called zero days, secret software flaws like the one that NSO used to install its spyware. This year, Chinese hackers were caught using zero days in Microsoft Exchange to steal emails and plant ransomware. In July, ransomware criminals used a zero day in software sold by the tech company Kaseya to bring down the networks of some 1,000 companies. For years, the spyware industry has been a black box. Sales of spyware are locked up in nondisclosure agreements and are frequently rolled into classified programs, with limited, if any, oversight. NSO’s clients previously infected their targets using text messages that cajoled victims into clicking on links. Those links made it possible for journalists and researchers at organisations like Citizen Lab to investigate the possible presence of spyware. But NSO’s new zero-click method makes the discovery of spyware by journalists and cybersecurity researchers much harder. “The commercial spyware industry is going darker,” said Marczak, the Citizen Lab researcher. Marczak said he was first approached by the Saudi activist in March. But it was only last week that he was able to parse evidence from the activist’s phone and uncover digital crumbs similar to those on the iPhones of other Pegasus targets. Marczak said he found that the Saudi activist, who declined to be identified, had received an image. That image, which was invisible to the user, exploited a vulnerability in the way that Apple processes images and allowed the Pegasus spyware to be quietly downloaded onto Apple devices. With the victim none the wiser, his or her most sensitive communications, data and passwords were siphoned off to servers at intelligence and law-enforcement agencies around the globe. Citizen Lab said the scale and scope of the operation was unclear. Marczak said, based on the timing of his discovery of Pegasus on the Saudi activist’s iPhone and other iPhones in March, it was safe to say the spyware had been siphoning data from Apple devices for at least six months. The zero-click exploit, which Citizen Lab dubbed “Forcedentry,” was among the most sophisticated exploits discovered by forensics researchers. In 2019, researchers uncovered that a similar NSO zero-click exploit had been deployed against 1,400 users of WhatsApp, the Facebook messaging service. Last year, Citizen Lab found a digital trail suggesting NSO may have a zero-click exploit to read Apple iMessages, but researchers never discovered the full exploit. NSO was long suspected of having a zero-click capability. A 2015 hack of one of NSO’s chief competitors, Hacking Team, a Milan-based spyware outfit, revealed emails showing Hacking Team executives scrambling to match a remote, zero-click exploit that its customers claimed NSO had developed. That same year, a Times reporter obtained NSO marketing materials for prospective new clients that mentioned a remote, zero-click capability. Proof of the capability never turned up. “Today was the proof,” Marczak said. orcedentry was the first time that researchers successfully recovered a full, zero-click exploit on the phones of activists and dissidents. When such discoveries are revealed, governments and cybercriminals typically try to exploit vulnerable systems before users have a chance to patch them, making timely patching critical. Scott-Railton urged Apple customers to run their software updates immediately. “Do you own an Apple product? Update it today,” he said.

Apple issues emergency security updates to close a spyware flaw

Apple CEO Tim Cook launched the latest and most awaited new iPhone model, called the iPhone 13, to over 2 million viewers on YouTube on Tuesday.

According to Apple, the iPhone 13 sports a smaller display cutout, or "notch," at the top of the screen, as well as larger batteries that deliver between 1.5 and 2.5 hours of battery life, depending on device size, over last year's models.&nbsp;

Apple Inc. released the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini with brighter screens, as well as improvements to its iPads and watches, to tempt customers into 5G plans.

The iPhone 13 will be available in five colours and will contain a new chip called the A15 Bionic, which will enable functions such as automatically detecting when the phone's camera is directed at text.&nbsp; 
 
The new iPhone 13 features new diagonally placed camera modules that are basically the same as last year's model.

According to Apple, one camera is a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with a large sensor that collects 50% more light.

The ultra-wide lens is the other lens.

A new "cinematic mode" that can retain focus on a moving subject is one of the camera upgrades.&nbsp; 
 
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iPhone 13 camera specifications (Picture courtesy: Apple Inc.)

"The competition is still playing catchup to our chips - not just from last year, but even from two years ago," said Kaiann Drance, an Apple iPhone marketing executive.

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The Series 7 smart watch will feature a larger display and faster charging. It will start at $399 and be available later this autumn. 
 
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<img alt="iPhone 13 mini" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff531609-7939-44ef-9f0e-77b76f41f63b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/106941683-1631642224733Screen_Shot_2021-09-14_at_15605_PM.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;

The battery life has improved:&nbsp;

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini have a bigger battery. It will last up to an hour and a half longer than the iPhone 12 according to Apple.

This is great news for iPhone 13 mini fans. The iPhone 12 mini's battery was ridiculed last year for not lasting as long as the larger models.&nbsp;

The iPad Mini has also been updated with 5G connection and a new design that resembles the higher-end iPad Air and Pro versions.

Apple also added a new camera to its base-model iPad, allowing users to work and learn from home.

The iPad starts at $329 for the standard model and $499 for the Mini.

Next week, both will be available for sale.

Apple shares were down 0.5%, in-line with a slight downturn in broader markets.

Apple last year introduced its iPhone 12, which featured a new look and its first devices with 5G connectivity. This year, analyst expect modest hardware upgrades and a deeper focus on 5G.

In particular, carriers such as AT&amp;T Inc, Verizon Communications and T-Mobile that have significantly built out their networks since the start of this year are likely to offer new incentives around the devices that can take advantage of the faster speeds those networks can offer, said Ben Bajarin, head of consumer technologies at Creative Strategies.

"There seems to be way more (5G network capacity) than was in place even six months ago," Bajarin said. "They want people upgrading. They're going to be really aggressive."

Apple's biggest product launch of the year comes as some of the shine has come off its stock as business practices such as charging software developers commissions on in-app payments have come under regulatory scrutiny.

Apple shares were up about 15.6% year to date, trailing the Nasdaq Composite Index, which was up nearly 19% over the same period.

The Apple Watch has become a cornerstone of its $30.6 billion accessories segment, which was up 25% in Apple's most recent fiscal year even as its iPhone revenue declined slightly. Analysts widely believe that Apple users who buy more than one product - such as an Apple Watch and iPhone - are more likely to stick with the brand and spend on the company's apps and services.

Apple focused on fitness features such as improving how the watch tracks bicycling workouts and dust protection for hiking. The watch is paired tightly with Apple Fitness+, a paid service offering guided workouts with Apple instructors. The company added pilates and skiing-oriented workouts, and a group workouts function designed to let users work out together. The company also bundled three months of free service with its watch devices.

Shares of exercise bike and online training company Peloton were down about 1.6%.

"It's the one service they offer where you literally have to have this product or you can't use this service," Bajarin said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Apple CEO Tim Cook launched the latest and most awaited new iPhone model, called the iPhone 13, to over 2 million viewers on YouTube on Tuesday. According to Apple, the iPhone 13 sports a smaller display cutout, or "notch," at the top of the screen, as well as larger batteries that deliver between 1.

Apple CEO Tim Cook launched the latest and most awaited new iPhone model, called the iPhone 13, to over 2 million viewers on YouTube on Tuesday. According to Apple, the iPhone 13 sports a smaller display cutout, or "notch," at the top of the screen, as well as larger batteries that deliver between 1.5 and 2.5 hours of battery life, depending on device size, over last year's models. Apple Inc. released the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini with brighter screens, as well as improvements to its iPads and watches, to tempt customers into 5G plans. The iPhone 13 will be available in five colours and will contain a new chip called the A15 Bionic, which will enable functions such as automatically detecting when the phone's camera is directed at text. The new iPhone 13 features new diagonally placed camera modules that are basically the same as last year's model. According to Apple, one camera is a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with a large sensor that collects 50% more light. The ultra-wide lens is the other lens. A new "cinematic mode" that can retain focus on a moving subject is one of the camera upgrades. iPhone 13 camera specifications (Picture courtesy: Apple Inc.) "The competition is still playing catchup to our chips - not just from last year, but even from two years ago," said Kaiann Drance, an Apple iPhone marketing executive. × The Series 7 smart watch will feature a larger display and faster charging. It will start at $399 and be available later this autumn. The battery life has improved: The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini have a bigger battery. It will last up to an hour and a half longer than the iPhone 12 according to Apple. This is great news for iPhone 13 mini fans. The iPhone 12 mini's battery was ridiculed last year for not lasting as long as the larger models. The iPad Mini has also been updated with 5G connection and a new design that resembles the higher-end iPad Air and Pro versions. Apple also added a new camera to its base-model iPad, allowing users to work and learn from home. The iPad starts at $329 for the standard model and $499 for the Mini. Next week, both will be available for sale. Apple shares were down 0.5%, in-line with a slight downturn in broader markets. Apple last year introduced its iPhone 12, which featured a new look and its first devices with 5G connectivity. This year, analyst expect modest hardware upgrades and a deeper focus on 5G. In particular, carriers such as AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications and T-Mobile that have significantly built out their networks since the start of this year are likely to offer new incentives around the devices that can take advantage of the faster speeds those networks can offer, said Ben Bajarin, head of consumer technologies at Creative Strategies. "There seems to be way more (5G network capacity) than was in place even six months ago," Bajarin said. "They want people upgrading. They're going to be really aggressive." Apple's biggest product launch of the year comes as some of the shine has come off its stock as business practices such as charging software developers commissions on in-app payments have come under regulatory scrutiny. Apple shares were up about 15.6% year to date, trailing the Nasdaq Composite Index, which was up nearly 19% over the same period. The Apple Watch has become a cornerstone of its $30.6 billion accessories segment, which was up 25% in Apple's most recent fiscal year even as its iPhone revenue declined slightly. Analysts widely believe that Apple users who buy more than one product - such as an Apple Watch and iPhone - are more likely to stick with the brand and spend on the company's apps and services. Apple focused on fitness features such as improving how the watch tracks bicycling workouts and dust protection for hiking. The watch is paired tightly with Apple Fitness+, a paid service offering guided workouts with Apple instructors. The company added pilates and skiing-oriented workouts, and a group workouts function designed to let users work out together. The company also bundled three months of free service with its watch devices. Shares of exercise bike and online training company Peloton were down about 1.6%. "It's the one service they offer where you literally have to have this product or you can't use this service," Bajarin said. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple unveils iPhone 13, adds new features to iPads, watches

At the much anticipated Apple event in the US, Apple has unveiled the iPhone 13 and a new iPad mini expanding its 5g connectivity and showing off faster chips and sharper cameras without raising the phone's price.

World Business Watch: Apple introduces iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini

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