Qualcomm in a legal filing has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-could-drop-qualcomm-components-in-next-years-iphones-ipads-sources-23251">said Apple stole its chip secrets</a> and gave it to Intel costing the company billions of dollars.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-could-drop-qualcomm-components-in-next-years-iphones-ipads-sources-23251">Also Read:&nbsp;Qualcomm's US $44 billion NXP offer deadline passes, no word from China</a>

In the lawsuit, Qualcomm asserted that Apple "engaged in a years-long campaign of false promises, stealth, and subterfuge designed to steal Qualcomm's confidential information and trade secrets in order to help Intel and other rivals field competing mobile chips."

Apple's iPhone's had Qualcomm chips but the company turned to Intel after legal battle opened with the chip-making company. Apple shifted to Intel chips two years ago with the launch of iPhone-7.

Apple's goal was to buy mobile chips from Intel instead of depending on Qualcomm, the court document claimed.

Apple on its part said it had allowed &nbsp;Qualcomm the chance to verify and that it had refused to answer questions on information it had shared with Intel.

In dispute being heard at San Diego County Superior Court, Apple has accused Qualcomm of unfair patent licensing practices, the chip-making giant, in turn, accused the most valuable company in the world of patent infringement.

Qualcomm has previously said it gave Apple access to its confidential software tools to help Apple integrate its modem chips into the iPhone.

On Tuesday, Qualcomm alleged that, since filing its lawsuit in November, it has discovered that Apple repeatedly used Qualcomm software to help Intel's engineers "improve the sub-par performance of Intel's chipsets."

In Tuesday's filing, Qualcomm alleged that Apple used the tools to open "log files" from Qualcomm and then gave those files to Intel engineers.

"Intel engineers even complained to Apple engineers about being unable to open Qualcomm log files, which Apple had provided to Intel, for lack of the appropriate Qualcomm tools," Qualcomm said in its filing.

"In response, Apple engineers routinely used Qualcomm tools to create post-processed log files, which they sent to Intel engineers to use in improving Intel's chipset solutions," it added.&nbsp;

Qualcomm in a legal filing has said Apple stole its chip secrets and gave it to Intel costing the company billions of dollars. Also Read: Qualcomm's US $44 billion NXP offer deadline passes, no word from China In the lawsuit, Qualcomm asserted that Apple "engaged in a years-long campaign of false promises, stealth, and subterfuge designed to steal Qualcomm's confidential information and trade secrets in order to help Intel and other rivals field competing mobile chips.

Qualcomm in a legal filing has said Apple stole its chip secrets and gave it to Intel costing the company billions of dollars. Also Read: Qualcomm's US $44 billion NXP offer deadline passes, no word from China In the lawsuit, Qualcomm asserted that Apple "engaged in a years-long campaign of false promises, stealth, and subterfuge designed to steal Qualcomm's confidential information and trade secrets in order to help Intel and other rivals field competing mobile chips." Apple's iPhone's had Qualcomm chips but the company turned to Intel after legal battle opened with the chip-making company. Apple shifted to Intel chips two years ago with the launch of iPhone-7. Apple's goal was to buy mobile chips from Intel instead of depending on Qualcomm, the court document claimed. Apple on its part said it had allowed Qualcomm the chance to verify and that it had refused to answer questions on information it had shared with Intel. In dispute being heard at San Diego County Superior Court, Apple has accused Qualcomm of unfair patent licensing practices, the chip-making giant, in turn, accused the most valuable company in the world of patent infringement. Qualcomm has previously said it gave Apple access to its confidential software tools to help Apple integrate its modem chips into the iPhone. On Tuesday, Qualcomm alleged that, since filing its lawsuit in November, it has discovered that Apple repeatedly used Qualcomm software to help Intel's engineers "improve the sub-par performance of Intel's chipsets." In Tuesday's filing, Qualcomm alleged that Apple used the tools to open "log files" from Qualcomm and then gave those files to Intel engineers. "Intel engineers even complained to Apple engineers about being unable to open Qualcomm log files, which Apple had provided to Intel, for lack of the appropriate Qualcomm tools," Qualcomm said in its filing. "In response, Apple engineers routinely used Qualcomm tools to create post-processed log files, which they sent to Intel engineers to use in improving Intel's chipset solutions," it added.

Apple stole chip secrets to help Intel, alleges Qualcomm in US court

Alphabet Inc's Google gave details about its policies for third-party Gmail add-ons but stopped short of fully addressing questions from US senators about developers who break its email-scanning rules.

How user data flows between big technology platforms such as Google and Facebook Inc and their partners has faced scrutiny around the world this year since Facebook revealed it had done little to monitor such relationships.

Google said in a letter to US senators made public on Thursday that it relies on automated scans and reports from security researchers to monitor add-ons after launch, but did not respond to lawmakers' request to say how many have been caught violating the company's policies.

Senators may seek further clarity on Gmail's operations at a Commerce Committee hearing about privacy practices scheduled for September 26 with officials from Google, Apple Inc, AT&amp;T Inc and Twitter Inc.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gmail users must give their consent to activate extensions, which can help them send emails on a time delay, get price-match rebates from retailers and remove unwanted mailing lists.

Under Google's policies, software firms that create these add-ons must inform users about how they collect and share Gmail data.

The lawmakers' inquiry came after the Wall Street Journal reported in July that some add-on makers did not make clear to users that their employees could review Gmail messages and that their data could be shared with additional parties.

Software experts told Reuters in March that auditing of apps that interact with Gmail, Facebook and other services is lax.

To be sure, sharing with a fourth party is essential to the functioning of some add-ons. For instance, a trip-planning app may scan a users' email for upcoming flight details and then use the data to query an airline for updated departure information.

Google told senators it has suspended apps due to "a lack of transparency to users," without identifying violators or when enforcement actions took place.

Gmail, used by 1.4 billion people, is not the only Google service drawing lawmaker questions about oversight.

House lawmakers asked Google in a separate letter in July whether smartphones with its voice assistant tool can or do collect so-called "non-triggered" audio in order to recognise phrases like "Okay Google" that activate voice controls.

The lawmakers cited media reports and said there had been suggestions that third-party applications have access to and use this non-triggered data without disclosure to users.

Alphabet Inc's Google gave details about its policies for third-party Gmail add-ons but stopped short of fully addressing questions from US senators about developers who break its email-scanning rules.

Alphabet Inc's Google gave details about its policies for third-party Gmail add-ons but stopped short of fully addressing questions from US senators about developers who break its email-scanning rules. How user data flows between big technology platforms such as Google and Facebook Inc and their partners has faced scrutiny around the world this year since Facebook revealed it had done little to monitor such relationships. Google said in a letter to US senators made public on Thursday that it relies on automated scans and reports from security researchers to monitor add-ons after launch, but did not respond to lawmakers' request to say how many have been caught violating the company's policies. Senators may seek further clarity on Gmail's operations at a Commerce Committee hearing about privacy practices scheduled for September 26 with officials from Google, Apple Inc, AT&T Inc and Twitter Inc. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gmail users must give their consent to activate extensions, which can help them send emails on a time delay, get price-match rebates from retailers and remove unwanted mailing lists. Under Google's policies, software firms that create these add-ons must inform users about how they collect and share Gmail data. The lawmakers' inquiry came after the Wall Street Journal reported in July that some add-on makers did not make clear to users that their employees could review Gmail messages and that their data could be shared with additional parties. Software experts told Reuters in March that auditing of apps that interact with Gmail, Facebook and other services is lax. To be sure, sharing with a fourth party is essential to the functioning of some add-ons. For instance, a trip-planning app may scan a users' email for upcoming flight details and then use the data to query an airline for updated departure information. Google told senators it has suspended apps due to "a lack of transparency to users," without identifying violators or when enforcement actions took place. Gmail, used by 1.4 billion people, is not the only Google service drawing lawmaker questions about oversight. House lawmakers asked Google in a separate letter in July whether smartphones with its voice assistant tool can or do collect so-called "non-triggered" audio in order to recognise phrases like "Okay Google" that activate voice controls. The lawmakers cited media reports and said there had been suggestions that third-party applications have access to and use this non-triggered data without disclosure to users.

Google defends Gmail data sharing, gives few details on violations

Apple Inc expects to ship 80 million new model iPhones this year, down 20 percent from what it had planned at the same time last year, Japanese financial daily the Nikkei reported on Friday, citing industry sources.

The California-based firm has asked suppliers to make about 20 percent fewer components for the three new iPhones it plans to launch in the second half of 2018, compared to last year's plans for its iPhone X and iPhone 8 models, the paper reported.

The report added to concerns that consumer passion for new editions of the iconic smartphones may be cooling after years of scorching growth, sending shares in Apple and many of its major suppliers lower and weighing on global stock markets.

"This news needs to be viewed in the context of Apple probably being overly optimistic last year in relation to the prospects for its new phones, leaving it with excess inventory in the first part of this year," Atlantic Equities analyst James Cordwell said.

"At least part of this lower order forecast probably relates to Apple just being a little more realistic."

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shares in the company fell as much as 2 percent on the report, while those in suppliers AMS and Dialog Semi sank 6 percent and 4.1 percent respectively.

US-based supplier Advanced Micro Devices, Micron Technology Intel, Broadcom Inc and Qualcomm Inc were all down between 1 percent and 4 percent.

Many analysts have said the high price of the iPhone X - which sells for $1,000 and is the first iPhone to sport a new design since the launch of the iPhone 6 in 2015 - is also muting demand for the flagship.

"Apple is quite conservative in terms of placing new orders for upcoming iPhones this year," said one of four industry sources cited by the Nikkei Asian Review.

"For the three new models specifically, the total planned capacity could be up to 20 percent fewer than last year's orders."

Top Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this week that Apple might cut prices of new iPhones to debut later this year by as much as $300, according to several media reports.

Kuo said that Apple was likely to launch a 6.5-inch OLED "IPhone X Plus," a second generation of iPhone X and an iPhone with a 6.1 inch screen.

"As the improvements made to the iPhone each year become increasingly marginal it may become more difficult to convince consumers to pay up for the latest model, when an older generation device is effectively just as good," said Atlantic Equities' Cordwell.

While media speculation about demand for the iPhone X swirled in the past six months, Apple's market value has continued to rise and is now within striking distance of $1 trillion.

DA&nbsp;Davidson & Co analyst Thomas Forte also played down any fears.

"I am not overly concerned ... about the lower supply speculations," he said. "Apple is doing enough in general to keep the ball moving forward."

The California-based firm has asked suppliers to make about 20 percent fewer components for the three new iPhones it plans to launch in the second half of 2018, compared to last year's plans for its iPhone X and iPhone 8 models, the paper reported.

Apple Inc expects to ship 80 million new model iPhones this year, down 20 percent from what it had planned at the same time last year, Japanese financial daily the Nikkei reported on Friday, citing industry sources. The California-based firm has asked suppliers to make about 20 percent fewer components for the three new iPhones it plans to launch in the second half of 2018, compared to last year's plans for its iPhone X and iPhone 8 models, the paper reported. The report added to concerns that consumer passion for new editions of the iconic smartphones may be cooling after years of scorching growth, sending shares in Apple and many of its major suppliers lower and weighing on global stock markets. "This news needs to be viewed in the context of Apple probably being overly optimistic last year in relation to the prospects for its new phones, leaving it with excess inventory in the first part of this year," Atlantic Equities analyst James Cordwell said. "At least part of this lower order forecast probably relates to Apple just being a little more realistic." Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shares in the company fell as much as 2 percent on the report, while those in suppliers AMS and Dialog Semi sank 6 percent and 4.1 percent respectively. US-based supplier Advanced Micro Devices, Micron Technology Intel, Broadcom Inc and Qualcomm Inc were all down between 1 percent and 4 percent. Many analysts have said the high price of the iPhone X - which sells for $1,000 and is the first iPhone to sport a new design since the launch of the iPhone 6 in 2015 - is also muting demand for the flagship. "Apple is quite conservative in terms of placing new orders for upcoming iPhones this year," said one of four industry sources cited by the Nikkei Asian Review. "For the three new models specifically, the total planned capacity could be up to 20 percent fewer than last year's orders." Top Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this week that Apple might cut prices of new iPhones to debut later this year by as much as $300, according to several media reports. Kuo said that Apple was likely to launch a 6.5-inch OLED "IPhone X Plus," a second generation of iPhone X and an iPhone with a 6.1 inch screen. "As the improvements made to the iPhone each year become increasingly marginal it may become more difficult to convince consumers to pay up for the latest model, when an older generation device is effectively just as good," said Atlantic Equities' Cordwell. While media speculation about demand for the iPhone X swirled in the past six months, Apple's market value has continued to rise and is now within striking distance of $1 trillion. DA Davidson & Co analyst Thomas Forte also played down any fears. "I am not overly concerned ... about the lower supply speculations," he said. "Apple is doing enough in general to keep the ball moving forward."

Apple to make 20 per cent fewer new model iPhones this year: Nikkei

Facebook has formed data-sharing partnerships with 60 device makers, including Apple and Microsoft, giving them access to information of users and even their friends, a media report has claimed, weeks after the social media faced massive backlash for improperly sharing personal data of up to 87 million people.

The New York Times yesterday revealed the partnerships, shedding new light on the social media giant's behaviour related to customer data in the wake of a scandal involving the British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook, which was founded in 2004, has reached data-sharing partnerships with at least 60 device makers including Apple, Amazon, BlackBerry, Microsoft and Samsung over the last decade, starting before Facebook apps were widely available on smartphones, company officials were quoted as saying by the report.

The deals allowed Facebook to expand its reach and let device makers offer customers popular features of the social network, such as messaging, "like" buttons and address books. The agreements that Facebook entered raise "concerns about the company's privacy protections and compliance with a 2011 consent decree" with the Federal Trade Commission, the report said.

"Facebook allowed the device companies access to the data of users' friends without their explicit consent, even after declaring that it would no longer share such information with outsiders," the daily said reporting the results of its investigation.

Some device makers could retrieve personal information even from users' friends who believed they had barred any sharing, The New York Times found.

In interviews to The New York Times, Facebook however defended its data sharing agreement and asserted that these are consistent with its privacy policies, the FTC agreement and pledges to users.

"These partnerships work very differently from the way in which app developers use our platform," Ime Archibong, Facebook vice president told the daily.

Unlike developers that provide games and services to Facebook users, the device partners can use Facebook data only to provide versions of "the Facebook experience," the officials were quoted as saying.

"You might think that Facebook or the device manufacturer is trustworthy. But the problem is that as more and more data is collected on the device and if it can be accessed by apps on the device it creates serious privacy and security risks," Serge Egelman, a privacy researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies the security of mobile apps, told the daily.

The report comes as Facebook has come under scrutiny for its handling of private data after it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica accessed millions of users' private information.

In April, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had admitted making a "huge mistake" as personal data of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

The deals allowed Facebook to expand its reach and let the device makers offer customers popular features of the social network, such as 'like' buttons and address books

Facebook has formed data-sharing partnerships with 60 device makers, including Apple and Microsoft, giving them access to information of users and even their friends, a media report has claimed, weeks after the social media faced massive backlash for improperly sharing personal data of up to 87 million people. The New York Times yesterday revealed the partnerships, shedding new light on the social media giant's behaviour related to customer data in the wake of a scandal involving the British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Facebook, which was founded in 2004, has reached data-sharing partnerships with at least 60 device makers including Apple, Amazon, BlackBerry, Microsoft and Samsung over the last decade, starting before Facebook apps were widely available on smartphones, company officials were quoted as saying by the report. The deals allowed Facebook to expand its reach and let device makers offer customers popular features of the social network, such as messaging, "like" buttons and address books. The agreements that Facebook entered raise "concerns about the company's privacy protections and compliance with a 2011 consent decree" with the Federal Trade Commission, the report said. "Facebook allowed the device companies access to the data of users' friends without their explicit consent, even after declaring that it would no longer share such information with outsiders," the daily said reporting the results of its investigation. Some device makers could retrieve personal information even from users' friends who believed they had barred any sharing, The New York Times found. In interviews to The New York Times, Facebook however defended its data sharing agreement and asserted that these are consistent with its privacy policies, the FTC agreement and pledges to users. "These partnerships work very differently from the way in which app developers use our platform," Ime Archibong, Facebook vice president told the daily. Unlike developers that provide games and services to Facebook users, the device partners can use Facebook data only to provide versions of "the Facebook experience," the officials were quoted as saying. "You might think that Facebook or the device manufacturer is trustworthy. But the problem is that as more and more data is collected on the device and if it can be accessed by apps on the device it creates serious privacy and security risks," Serge Egelman, a privacy researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies the security of mobile apps, told the daily. The report comes as Facebook has come under scrutiny for its handling of private data after it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica accessed millions of users' private information. In April, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had admitted making a "huge mistake" as personal data of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica. ×

Facebook shared user data with over 60 device makers including Apple, Samsung: Report

The US jury on Thursday directed Samsung to pay US $539 million to Apple Inc for copying patented smartphone designs and features, bringing a years-long feud between the technology companies into its final stages.

The award appeared to be a bit of a victory for Apple, which had argued in court that design was essential to the iPhone. The case was keenly watched as a precedent for whether design is so important that it could actually be considered the "article of design" even in a product as complex as a smartphone.&nbsp;

"We don't think it is supported by the evidence," Samsung attorney John Quinn told US District Court Judge Lucy Koh after the verdict was read in her courtroom in Silicon Valley.

"We have every concern about the determinations about the article of manufacture."

Quinn declined an offer by the judge to send jurors back for further deliberation, saying Samsung would pursue post-trial motions to address its concerns about the verdict.

Juror Christine Calderon said the panel agreed that one of the design patents - the grid of coloured icons - did represent the whole phone, while the other two at issue in the trial were seen as the display assembly that gave the iPhone its look.

The world’s top smartphone rivals have been in court over patents since 2011, when Apple filed a lawsuit alleging Samsung’s smartphones and tablets “slavishly” copied its products. Samsung was found liable in a 2012 trial, but a disagreement over the amount to be paid led to the current retrial over damages where arguments ended on May 18.

Samsung previously paid Apple $399 million to compensate Apple for infringement of some of the patents at issue in the case. The jury has been deliberating the case since last week.

In a statement, Apple said it was pleased that the members of the jury "agree that Samsung should pay for copying our products."

"We believe deeply in the value of design," Apple said in its statement. "This case has always been about more than money."

The new jury verdict followed a trial in San Jose, California, before Judge Lucy Koh that focused on how much Samsung should pay for infringing Apple patents covering aspects of the iPhone's design. The jury awarded Apple $533.3 million for Samsung's violation of so-called design patents and $5.3 million for the violation of so-called utility patents.

Apple this year told jurors it was entitled to $1 billion in profits Samsung made from selling infringing phones, saying the iPhone's design was crucial to their success.

Samsung sought to limit damages to about $28 million, saying it should only pay for profits attributable to the components of its phones that infringed Apple patents.

The case was keenly watched as a precedent for whether design is so important that it could actually be considered the "article of design" even in a product as complex as a smartphone

The US jury on Thursday directed Samsung to pay US $539 million to Apple Inc for copying patented smartphone designs and features, bringing a years-long feud between the technology companies into its final stages. The award appeared to be a bit of a victory for Apple, which had argued in court that design was essential to the iPhone. The case was keenly watched as a precedent for whether design is so important that it could actually be considered the "article of design" even in a product as complex as a smartphone. "We don't think it is supported by the evidence," Samsung attorney John Quinn told US District Court Judge Lucy Koh after the verdict was read in her courtroom in Silicon Valley. "We have every concern about the determinations about the article of manufacture." Quinn declined an offer by the judge to send jurors back for further deliberation, saying Samsung would pursue post-trial motions to address its concerns about the verdict. Juror Christine Calderon said the panel agreed that one of the design patents - the grid of coloured icons - did represent the whole phone, while the other two at issue in the trial were seen as the display assembly that gave the iPhone its look. The world’s top smartphone rivals have been in court over patents since 2011, when Apple filed a lawsuit alleging Samsung’s smartphones and tablets “slavishly” copied its products. Samsung was found liable in a 2012 trial, but a disagreement over the amount to be paid led to the current retrial over damages where arguments ended on May 18. Samsung previously paid Apple $399 million to compensate Apple for infringement of some of the patents at issue in the case. The jury has been deliberating the case since last week. In a statement, Apple said it was pleased that the members of the jury "agree that Samsung should pay for copying our products." "We believe deeply in the value of design," Apple said in its statement. "This case has always been about more than money." The new jury verdict followed a trial in San Jose, California, before Judge Lucy Koh that focused on how much Samsung should pay for infringing Apple patents covering aspects of the iPhone's design. The jury awarded Apple $533.3 million for Samsung's violation of so-called design patents and $5.3 million for the violation of so-called utility patents. Apple this year told jurors it was entitled to $1 billion in profits Samsung made from selling infringing phones, saying the iPhone's design was crucial to their success. Samsung sought to limit damages to about $28 million, saying it should only pay for profits attributable to the components of its phones that infringed Apple patents.

Samsung to pay $539 million to Apple for copying patented smartphone designs, features

Apple is on the verge of becoming the first $1 trillion publicly listed US&nbsp;company, but even if it gets there, it could soon be overtaken as Amazon.com surges from behind.

Started in the garage of co-founder Steve Jobs in 1976, the iPhone maker's annual revenue has ballooned to $229 billion, greater than the gross domestic product of countries including Portugal and New Zealand.

Apple's market capitalisation on Thursday topped a record $934 billion, following its unveiling last week of a $100 billion buyback budget and news that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway dramatically increased its stake in the company.

Thanks to a 12 percent rally since its quarterly report last Tuesday, the Cupertino, California company is just 8 percent short of hitting the $1 trillion valuation mark.

Pointing to Apple's recent 31 percent jump in service revenue, including music streaming and online storage, CFRA analyst Angelo Zino on Wednesday upped his target price for the stock from $195 to $210, which would put Apple's market capitalisation at $1.03 trillion. Zino joins at least 12 other analysts with price targets putting Apple's stock market value at 13 digits.

But Apple is in danger of being beaten to the $1 trillion mark - or passed soon after - by Amazon.com, the second largest listed U.S. company by market value, at $780 billion.

While $148 billion smaller than Apple on Friday, Amazon of late has expanded its stock price, and its sales, much more quickly than Apple. Amazon's stock is red hot, trading recently at over 100 times expected earnings, compared to more-profitable - but slower growing - Apple's valuation of 15 times earnings.

Apple's stock has risen 24 percent over the past year, fueled by optimism about the iPhone X, the company's latest smartphone. But demand for the $1,000 device has underwhelmed investors, and bulls are now focused on Apple's plan to return more cash to shareholders.

By comparison, Amazon's stock has surged 70 percent over the past 12 months, bolstered by 31 percent revenue growth as more shopping moves online and businesses shift their IT departments to the cloud, where Amazon Web Services leads the market.

Amazon is also competing more with Apple and Google owner Alphabet as it sells music and video content, its Fire TV device and&nbsp;Alexa smart home gadget.

Started in the garage of co-founder Steve Jobs in 1976, the iPhone maker's annual revenue has ballooned to $229 billion, greater than the gross domestic product of countries including Portugal and New Zealand.

Apple is on the verge of becoming the first $1 trillion publicly listed US company, but even if it gets there, it could soon be overtaken as Amazon.com surges from behind. Started in the garage of co-founder Steve Jobs in 1976, the iPhone maker's annual revenue has ballooned to $229 billion, greater than the gross domestic product of countries including Portugal and New Zealand. Apple's market capitalisation on Thursday topped a record $934 billion, following its unveiling last week of a $100 billion buyback budget and news that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway dramatically increased its stake in the company. Thanks to a 12 percent rally since its quarterly report last Tuesday, the Cupertino, California company is just 8 percent short of hitting the $1 trillion valuation mark. Pointing to Apple's recent 31 percent jump in service revenue, including music streaming and online storage, CFRA analyst Angelo Zino on Wednesday upped his target price for the stock from $195 to $210, which would put Apple's market capitalisation at $1.03 trillion. Zino joins at least 12 other analysts with price targets putting Apple's stock market value at 13 digits. But Apple is in danger of being beaten to the $1 trillion mark - or passed soon after - by Amazon.com, the second largest listed U.S. company by market value, at $780 billion. While $148 billion smaller than Apple on Friday, Amazon of late has expanded its stock price, and its sales, much more quickly than Apple. Amazon's stock is red hot, trading recently at over 100 times expected earnings, compared to more-profitable - but slower growing - Apple's valuation of 15 times earnings. Apple's stock has risen 24 percent over the past year, fueled by optimism about the iPhone X, the company's latest smartphone. But demand for the $1,000 device has underwhelmed investors, and bulls are now focused on Apple's plan to return more cash to shareholders. By comparison, Amazon's stock has surged 70 percent over the past 12 months, bolstered by 31 percent revenue growth as more shopping moves online and businesses shift their IT departments to the cloud, where Amazon Web Services leads the market. Amazon is also competing more with Apple and Google owner Alphabet as it sells music and video content, its Fire TV device and Alexa smart home gadget.

Apple is almost a $1 trillion company, but watch out for Amazon

Exactly 20 years ago today Steve Jobs launched the original Bondi Blue iMac and from thereon out Apple has only escalated.&nbsp;

On May 6, 1998, Apple's first-generation iMac computer paved way for advanced computing technologies as we know today. &nbsp;It featured a 15-inch CRT screen, a meager 4GB hard drive.

Featuring the all-in-one design with a translucent blue shell, it came with a number of key features, such as being the first computer to rely solely upon USB ports and come without a floppy disk drive.&nbsp;

The company's first two home computers, the Apple II and the Mac, were falling out of favor, and Apple was losing serious ground to its competitors.

But then, in 1997, co-founder Steve Jobs returned to the company as CEO. Less than a year later, he introduced&nbsp;iMac.

Also,&nbsp;iMac was the first product that was introduced with letter 'i' which has now become its signature with the ipad's and iPhone's.&nbsp;

In celebration of iMac's 20th anniversary, Tim Cook posted the video of the desktop's launch from 1998.&nbsp;

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20 years ago today, Steve introduced the world to iMac. It set Apple on a new course and forever changed the way people look at computers. <a href="https://t.co/GbKno7YBHl">pic.twitter.com/GbKno7YBHl</a>
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/993168814505213952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The iMac was shipped in August 1998 and eventually came up with more colours because of its huge success.&nbsp;

Despite the entry-level specifications, as compared to the computers today, the iMac was responsible for bringing Apple back into the business after years of business blunders, Engadget has reported.

From USD 1,299-priced original iMac to the present-day iMac Pro at USD 4,999, Apple has brought in revolutionary technology at a premium.&nbsp;

On May 6, 1998, Apple's first-generation iMac computer paved way for advanced computing technologies as we know today. It featured a 15-inch CRT screen, a meager 4GB hard drive

Exactly 20 years ago today Steve Jobs launched the original Bondi Blue iMac and from thereon out Apple has only escalated. On May 6, 1998, Apple's first-generation iMac computer paved way for advanced computing technologies as we know today. It featured a 15-inch CRT screen, a meager 4GB hard drive. Featuring the all-in-one design with a translucent blue shell, it came with a number of key features, such as being the first computer to rely solely upon USB ports and come without a floppy disk drive. The company's first two home computers, the Apple II and the Mac, were falling out of favor, and Apple was losing serious ground to its competitors. But then, in 1997, co-founder Steve Jobs returned to the company as CEO. Less than a year later, he introduced iMac. Also, iMac was the first product that was introduced with letter 'i' which has now become its signature with the ipad's and iPhone's. In celebration of iMac's 20th anniversary, Tim Cook posted the video of the desktop's launch from 1998. 20 years ago today, Steve introduced the world to iMac. It set Apple on a new course and forever changed the way people look at computers. pic.twitter.com/GbKno7YBHl — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) May 6, 2018 × The iMac was shipped in August 1998 and eventually came up with more colours because of its huge success. Despite the entry-level specifications, as compared to the computers today, the iMac was responsible for bringing Apple back into the business after years of business blunders, Engadget has reported. From USD 1,299-priced original iMac to the present-day iMac Pro at USD 4,999, Apple has brought in revolutionary technology at a premium.

iMac turns 20 today, take a look at its first-ever launch in 1998

The quarterly results of Apple escalated more than the expected Wall Street forecast as the company beat revenue and profit expectations in its March quarter&nbsp;

The results revived after Apple sold 62.2 million iPhones.The sales also promised $100 billion in additional stock buybacks.

The results revived after it had experienced a drop following growing concern over the iPhone.

The company was also more optimistic about current quarter where its shares drove up 3.6 pe rcent to $ 175.25 after hours.

Apple was being given warnings about smartphone weakness and that the company was becoming too reliant on the iPhone and was not responding to demands of computers, tablets and smartphones.

The iPhone sales this year accounted for 52.2 million against the Wall Street target of 52.3 million. This was more than last year's sale which crossed 50.7 million.

The company brought $23.5 billion of stock in the March quarter and it planned to hike its divindend 16 per cent.

Apple posted revenue for its March quarter of $61.1 billion, up from $52.9 billion last year. Wall Street expected $60.8 billion

Average selling prices for iPhones were $728, compared with Wall Street expectations of $742. The figure is up more than 10 per cent from $655 a year ago, suggesting that Apple’s iPhone X, which starts at $999, has helped boost prices.

Profits were $2.73 per share versus expectations of $2.68 per share, as of Monday, and up from $2.10 a year ago.

Apple’s services business, which includes Apple Music, the App Store and iCloud, posted $9.1 billion in revenue compared with expectations of $8.3 billion.

&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

The results revived after Apple sold 62.2 million iPhones.The sales also promised $100 billion in additional stock buybacks

The quarterly results of Apple escalated more than the expected Wall Street forecast as the company beat revenue and profit expectations in its March quarter The results revived after Apple sold 62.2 million iPhones.The sales also promised $100 billion in additional stock buybacks. The results revived after it had experienced a drop following growing concern over the iPhone. The company was also more optimistic about current quarter where its shares drove up 3.6 pe rcent to $ 175.25 after hours. Apple was being given warnings about smartphone weakness and that the company was becoming too reliant on the iPhone and was not responding to demands of computers, tablets and smartphones. The iPhone sales this year accounted for 52.2 million against the Wall Street target of 52.3 million. This was more than last year's sale which crossed 50.7 million. The company brought $23.5 billion of stock in the March quarter and it planned to hike its divindend 16 per cent. Apple posted revenue for its March quarter of $61.1 billion, up from $52.9 billion last year. Wall Street expected $60.8 billion Average selling prices for iPhones were $728, compared with Wall Street expectations of $742. The figure is up more than 10 per cent from $655 a year ago, suggesting that Apple’s iPhone X, which starts at $999, has helped boost prices. Profits were $2.73 per share versus expectations of $2.68 per share, as of Monday, and up from $2.10 a year ago. Apple’s services business, which includes Apple Music, the App Store and iCloud, posted $9.1 billion in revenue compared with expectations of $8.3 billion. (With inputs from Reuters)

Apple beats profit expectations, plans $100 billion cash return boost

A Colorado woman travelling from Paris, France to Minneapolis, USA got fined $500 by customs for carrying a sealed apple which she received in Delta airline's flight only as a free snack.

As per the regulations of US Customs and Border Protection demands declaration of items at the port of entry which includes fresh fruits as well.

The CBP agent at the airport found the apple during a random search of Cyrstal Tadlock.

With fine her, global entry status has also been revoked.&nbsp;

Global entry status is a US&nbsp;Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at selected airports.

The US daily reported, Tadlock saying that the agent asked her whether her France trip was expensive to which she wondered why he was asking this but after she said yes, the agent fined her with $500 saying "it's about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500."

Though Tadlock offered to either throw it or eat it&nbsp;but agent refused and handed her the required fine.

She also protested to the fine by showing a Delta logo on the wrapper to the officer in order to prove that the fruit came from the airline itself.

However, in a statement released by the Airline's spokesperson Michael Thomas that it encourages its customers to adhere to Customs and Border Protection policies and requirements.

Tadlock&nbsp;has now told the authorities that she will fight to revoke the fine by going to court.

US Customs and Border Patrol has also refused to comment on a particular inspection matter but the media has quoted it saying that "all agricultural items must be declared".

The apple had been part of an onboard meal

A Colorado woman travelling from Paris, France to Minneapolis, USA got fined $500 by customs for carrying a sealed apple which she received in Delta airline's flight only as a free snack. As per the regulations of US Customs and Border Protection demands declaration of items at the port of entry which includes fresh fruits as well. The CBP agent at the airport found the apple during a random search of Cyrstal Tadlock. With fine her, global entry status has also been revoked. Global entry status is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at selected airports. The US daily reported, Tadlock saying that the agent asked her whether her France trip was expensive to which she wondered why he was asking this but after she said yes, the agent fined her with $500 saying "it's about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500." Though Tadlock offered to either throw it or eat it but agent refused and handed her the required fine. She also protested to the fine by showing a Delta logo on the wrapper to the officer in order to prove that the fruit came from the airline itself. However, in a statement released by the Airline's spokesperson Michael Thomas that it encourages its customers to adhere to Customs and Border Protection policies and requirements. Tadlock has now told the authorities that she will fight to revoke the fine by going to court. US Customs and Border Patrol has also refused to comment on a particular inspection matter but the media has quoted it saying that "all agricultural items must be declared".

US woman flyer brings in apple, customs fines her $500

Among the tech leader who are&nbsp;giving up on Facebook following the data breach scandal, Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple has also left the social media platform.

The decision of leaving facebook came after the growing concerns of data security and how the social media platforms treat such personal user information for their advertising gains.

Wozniak said to the USA today in a mail that he'd rather pay Facebook than his personal information being exploited for advertising. He further praised Apple for respecting user's privacy.&nbsp;

"Apple makes its money off of good products, not off of you," Wozniak said. "As they say, with Facebook, you are the product", he said.

Facebook came under fire for mishandling user's information as the UK based data mining firm Cambridge Analytica obtained the data through illegal measures. The company has assisted Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential election.

Mark Zuckerberg had also announced that as many as 87 million Facebook user's data was compromised in the whole scandal.

Wozniak has not completely deleted his account rather he just has deactivated so the no one can take the screen name of his.

Before deactivating his account, Wozniak went through his setting was shocked to see the extent to which that data has been collected.

"I was surprised to see how many categories for ads and how many advertisers I had to get rid of, one at a time. I did not feel that this is what people want done to them," he wrote. "Ads and spam are bad things these days and there are no controls over them. Or transparency," he wrote in a mail.

In March,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/musk-deletes-facebook-pages-of-tesla-spacex-after-challenged-on-twitter-36893"> Elon Musk also deleted his Facebook </a>which had millions of followers after the billionaire promised on Twitter to take down the page.&nbsp;

A Twitter user had challenged Musk to delete his Facebook when hashtag #Deletefacebook was trending.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/facebook-to-alert-indian-users-if-their-data-was-shared-with-cambridge-analytica-129432">Facebook to start telling Indian users if their data was shared with Cambridge Analytica</a>

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&nbsp;

I'd rather pay Facebook than my personal information being exploited for advertising said Steve Wozniak

Among the tech leader who are giving up on Facebook following the data breach scandal, Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple has also left the social media platform. The decision of leaving facebook came after the growing concerns of data security and how the social media platforms treat such personal user information for their advertising gains. Wozniak said to the USA today in a mail that he'd rather pay Facebook than his personal information being exploited for advertising. He further praised Apple for respecting user's privacy. "Apple makes its money off of good products, not off of you," Wozniak said. "As they say, with Facebook, you are the product", he said. Facebook came under fire for mishandling user's information as the UK based data mining firm Cambridge Analytica obtained the data through illegal measures. The company has assisted Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential election. Mark Zuckerberg had also announced that as many as 87 million Facebook user's data was compromised in the whole scandal. Wozniak has not completely deleted his account rather he just has deactivated so the no one can take the screen name of his. Before deactivating his account, Wozniak went through his setting was shocked to see the extent to which that data has been collected. "I was surprised to see how many categories for ads and how many advertisers I had to get rid of, one at a time. I did not feel that this is what people want done to them," he wrote. "Ads and spam are bad things these days and there are no controls over them. Or transparency," he wrote in a mail. In March, Elon Musk also deleted his Facebook which had millions of followers after the billionaire promised on Twitter to take down the page. A Twitter user had challenged Musk to delete his Facebook when hashtag #Deletefacebook was trending. Also read: Facebook to start telling Indian users if their data was shared with Cambridge Analytica ×

Data breach row: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak deactivates his Facebook account

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently reacted to Tim Cook's criticism saying that Cook's comments on Facebook were unfounded.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Zuckerberg, in an interview on Monday, defended his company's business model and called Cook's comments "extremely glib", not "aligned with the truth".

Tim Cook's comments came in the wake of the ongoing Facebook data breach row. When asked how would he have handled the situation, Cook replied saying that he would not have been in such a situation in the first place.&nbsp;

Tim Cook further noted that a company can make a lot of money by monetising its customers, but "we have elected not to do that".

Zuckerberg took a defensive stance stating that not everyone one can afford to pay for a service that helps connect everyone in the world.&nbsp;

"Having an advertising-supported model is the only rational model that can support building this service," he told a leading American media house.&nbsp;

Cook, in a recent interview,&nbsp;pressed for more stringent regulations on social media. He questioned the practice of monetising user data by selling ads that let advertisers identify their target group of users.

Facebook, on the other hand, is an entity that thrives on selling such advertisements.

The Mark-Zuckerberg-led company has come under the scanner over user data breach of close to 50 million users.

Zuckerberg recently admitted to having "made mistakes" over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. He apologised for the "breach of trust" that had occurred between Facebook and its users.

Zuckerberg took a defensive stance stating that not everyone one can afford to pay for a service that helps connect everyone in the world

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently reacted to Tim Cook's criticism saying that Cook's comments on Facebook were unfounded. × Zuckerberg, in an interview on Monday, defended his company's business model and called Cook's comments "extremely glib", not "aligned with the truth". Tim Cook's comments came in the wake of the ongoing Facebook data breach row. When asked how would he have handled the situation, Cook replied saying that he would not have been in such a situation in the first place. Tim Cook further noted that a company can make a lot of money by monetising its customers, but "we have elected not to do that". Zuckerberg took a defensive stance stating that not everyone one can afford to pay for a service that helps connect everyone in the world. "Having an advertising-supported model is the only rational model that can support building this service," he told a leading American media house. Cook, in a recent interview, pressed for more stringent regulations on social media. He questioned the practice of monetising user data by selling ads that let advertisers identify their target group of users. Facebook, on the other hand, is an entity that thrives on selling such advertisements. The Mark-Zuckerberg-led company has come under the scanner over user data breach of close to 50 million users. Zuckerberg recently admitted to having "made mistakes" over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. He apologised for the "breach of trust" that had occurred between Facebook and its users.

We do not monetise our customers: Tim Cook criticises Facebook

Tech giant Apple has been sued by over 60,000 iPhone users&nbspin South Korea&nbspfor damages on Friday.

The compensation that is being demanded is $12 million in total with each customer demanding $188.

The lawsuit has been lodged by a local firm Hannuri in a Seoul Central district court against the local unit of iPhone manufacturer, Appl and Apple Korea.

According to reports, four lakh users were seeking legal action against the company initially but the number fell during the course of verification of documents and other legal procedures.

The company is accused of slowing down phones through software tweak after they release new model is released to make buyers purchase the latest one.

In December last year, the company confirmed the reports of slowing certain models deliberately in order to prevent phone from aging batteries.

The company further assured users that it does to 'protect your phone' as the lithium-ion batteries age through time and after that,&nbspit can't process at the same capacity which could cause a phone to shut down unexpectdely.

 
&nbsp

The compensation that is being demanded is $12 million in total with each customer demanding $188

Tech giant Apple has been sued by over 60,000 iPhone users&nbspin South Korea&nbspfor damages on Friday. The compensation that is being demanded is $12 million in total with each customer demanding $188. The lawsuit has been lodged by a local firm Hannuri in a Seoul Central district court against the local unit of iPhone manufacturer, Appl and Apple Korea. According to reports, four lakh users were seeking legal action against the company initially but the number fell during the course of verification of documents and other legal procedures. The company is accused of slowing down phones through software tweak after they release new model is released to make buyers purchase the latest one. In December last year, the company confirmed the reports of slowing certain models deliberately in order to prevent phone from aging batteries. The company further assured users that it does to 'protect your phone' as the lithium-ion batteries age through time and after that,&nbspit can't process at the same capacity which could cause a phone to shut down unexpectdely.

Over 60,000 iPhone users sue Apple in South Korea

Apple Inc on Tuesday rolled out a new iPad that works with its Apple Pencil and is aimed at grabbing more of the US education market, but did not cut the price of the tablet despite fierce competition from cheaper laptops.

The device will have a more powerful computing chip and extensive new software features aimed at teachers and students but keep the existing starting price of $299 for students and $329 for the general public.

Apple is looking to reassert its dominance in US schools, where inexpensive devices and laptops that are geared towards classroom use are seen as a way to hook young consumers.

Laptops running operating systems by Alphabet Inc's Google or Microsoft Corp can be had for less than $200.

Some analysts had believed Apple might cut prices, but the company stuck with its more traditional approach of packing more features into a device and maintaining its minimum price point.

Apple hit hard on the education theme at the Chicago event, with school bells and announcements over a public address system directing press and more than 300 teachers into an auditorium at Lane Tech College Prep High School. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook opened the keynote with a nod to politics, saying "we are deeply inspired by the courage of the students who walked out" and marched on Washington, advocating for stricter gun control laws following a school shooting in Florida.

The line elicited cheers from students seated at the rear of the auditorium.

The Chicago event comes during a spring buying season when many schools are making purchasing decisions for the upcoming school year.

"We`ve been at this for 40 years and we care deeply about education," Cook said.

Apple executives said the company will release a iPad model that works with its pencil accessory and features an upgraded A10 Fusion chip, the same CPU that powers the iPhone 7.

The company also released a new version of its word processing apps for the iPad designed to work with the pencil and allow students to take handwritten notes more easily.

Apple made up just 17 per cent of the K-12 US educational market in the third quarter, according to data from Futuresource Consulting.

Meanwhile 60 per cent of mobile computing shipments to schools ran Google's Chrome operating system, and 22 per cent had Windows.

Chromebooks sold by Dell Technologies Inc cost as little as $189.

Microsoft last year introduced an education-focused laptop from partner Lenovo Group Ltd running Window 10 S.

Apple in recent years made changes to its operating system so that more than one student can log into an iPad, and to its software to let teachers better manage groups of students.

But it faces a tough battle in the educational market given the popularity of Google and Microsoft`s cloud-based productivity suites, said Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies.

Google's G Suite fueled Chromebook sales because it was seen as easy to use to manage assignments.

"Most teachers don`t look past G Suite for education," she said. Apple has iWork, which added features in recent years but remains less familiar to teachers than Google`s productivity suite or Microsoft's Office. Sales of iPads made up just 8.3 per cent of Apple's $229.2 billion total revenue last year, compared with the nearly 62 per cent of sales generated by iPhones.

Some analysts had believed Apple might cut prices, but the company stuck with its more traditional approach of packing more features into a device and maintaining its minimum price point.

Apple Inc on Tuesday rolled out a new iPad that works with its Apple Pencil and is aimed at grabbing more of the US education market, but did not cut the price of the tablet despite fierce competition from cheaper laptops. The device will have a more powerful computing chip and extensive new software features aimed at teachers and students but keep the existing starting price of $299 for students and $329 for the general public. Apple is looking to reassert its dominance in US schools, where inexpensive devices and laptops that are geared towards classroom use are seen as a way to hook young consumers. Laptops running operating systems by Alphabet Inc's Google or Microsoft Corp can be had for less than $200. Some analysts had believed Apple might cut prices, but the company stuck with its more traditional approach of packing more features into a device and maintaining its minimum price point. Apple hit hard on the education theme at the Chicago event, with school bells and announcements over a public address system directing press and more than 300 teachers into an auditorium at Lane Tech College Prep High School. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook opened the keynote with a nod to politics, saying "we are deeply inspired by the courage of the students who walked out" and marched on Washington, advocating for stricter gun control laws following a school shooting in Florida. The line elicited cheers from students seated at the rear of the auditorium. The Chicago event comes during a spring buying season when many schools are making purchasing decisions for the upcoming school year. "We`ve been at this for 40 years and we care deeply about education," Cook said. Apple executives said the company will release a iPad model that works with its pencil accessory and features an upgraded A10 Fusion chip, the same CPU that powers the iPhone 7. The company also released a new version of its word processing apps for the iPad designed to work with the pencil and allow students to take handwritten notes more easily. Apple made up just 17 per cent of the K-12 US educational market in the third quarter, according to data from Futuresource Consulting. Meanwhile 60 per cent of mobile computing shipments to schools ran Google's Chrome operating system, and 22 per cent had Windows. Chromebooks sold by Dell Technologies Inc cost as little as $189. Microsoft last year introduced an education-focused laptop from partner Lenovo Group Ltd running Window 10 S. Apple in recent years made changes to its operating system so that more than one student can log into an iPad, and to its software to let teachers better manage groups of students. But it faces a tough battle in the educational market given the popularity of Google and Microsoft`s cloud-based productivity suites, said Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies. Google's G Suite fueled Chromebook sales because it was seen as easy to use to manage assignments. "Most teachers don`t look past G Suite for education," she said. Apple has iWork, which added features in recent years but remains less familiar to teachers than Google`s productivity suite or Microsoft's Office. Sales of iPads made up just 8.3 per cent of Apple's $229.2 billion total revenue last year, compared with the nearly 62 per cent of sales generated by iPhones.

Apple unveils new iPad for students

According to reports, Apple has proposed a new set emojis that would represent people with disabilities. In its submission to Unicode Consortium, the tech giant requested "the addition of emoji to better represent individuals with disabilities".&nbsp;

"Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities. Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all," the request noted.&nbsp;

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? ? New: Apple has submitted a proposal to Unicode for accessibility emojis including people in wheelchairs, service dogs, and prosthetic limbs. If approved, they'll be on phones next year <a href="https://t.co/ic87QRkDpj">https://t.co/ic87QRkDpj</a> <a href="https://t.co/d7NISQR0me">pic.twitter.com/d7NISQR0me</a>
— Emojipedia ? (@Emojipedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Emojipedia/status/977228909916884999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">23 March 2018</a></blockquote>
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Apple's submission is available in the public domain on Unicode's official website. The submission iterated Apple's belief that "technology should be accessible to all".

"One in seven people around the world has some form of disability, whether that be a physical disability involving vision, hearing, or loss of physical motor skills, or a more hidden, invisible disability. The current selection of emoji provides a wide array of representations of people, activities, and objects meaningful to the general public, but very few speak to the life experiences of those with disabilities," the submission read.&nbsp;

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According to Apple's proposal 18 of 31 global sign languages use this gesture to represent the deaf sign. If approved, it would join the existing ASL "I love you" gesture in the Unicode Standard: ? <a href="https://t.co/d9dHr6OwVE">pic.twitter.com/d9dHr6OwVE</a>
— Emojipedia ? (@Emojipedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Emojipedia/status/977233963998687232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">23 March 2018</a></blockquote>
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The proposed set of nearly 13 emojis includes a person with a wheelchair, a hearing aid emoji among others.&nbsp;

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A service dog emoji is proposed to represent "hidden disabilities" such as Autism, seizures, anxiety, or PTSD. Per the proposal: "service dogs not only perform tasks to help their partners live independent lives, but may represent a lifeline in moments of crisis" <a href="https://t.co/S3DpmVFe4j">pic.twitter.com/S3DpmVFe4j</a>
— Emojipedia ? (@Emojipedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Emojipedia/status/977492001640853505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 March 2018</a></blockquote>
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If approved, the emojis are likely to go live for public use in 2019.&nbsp;

If approved, the emojis are likely to go live for public use in 2019

According to reports, Apple has proposed a new set emojis that would represent people with disabilities. In its submission to Unicode Consortium, the tech giant requested "the addition of emoji to better represent individuals with disabilities". "Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities. Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all," the request noted. ? ? New: Apple has submitted a proposal to Unicode for accessibility emojis including people in wheelchairs, service dogs, and prosthetic limbs. If approved, they'll be on phones next year https://t.co/ic87QRkDpj pic.twitter.com/d7NISQR0me — Emojipedia ? (@Emojipedia) 23 March 2018 × Apple's submission is available in the public domain on Unicode's official website. The submission iterated Apple's belief that "technology should be accessible to all". "One in seven people around the world has some form of disability, whether that be a physical disability involving vision, hearing, or loss of physical motor skills, or a more hidden, invisible disability. The current selection of emoji provides a wide array of representations of people, activities, and objects meaningful to the general public, but very few speak to the life experiences of those with disabilities," the submission read. According to Apple's proposal 18 of 31 global sign languages use this gesture to represent the deaf sign. If approved, it would join the existing ASL "I love you" gesture in the Unicode Standard: ? pic.twitter.com/d9dHr6OwVE — Emojipedia ? (@Emojipedia) 23 March 2018 × The proposed set of nearly 13 emojis includes a person with a wheelchair, a hearing aid emoji among others. A service dog emoji is proposed to represent "hidden disabilities" such as Autism, seizures, anxiety, or PTSD. Per the proposal: "service dogs not only perform tasks to help their partners live independent lives, but may represent a lifeline in moments of crisis" pic.twitter.com/S3DpmVFe4j — Emojipedia ? (@Emojipedia) 24 March 2018 × If approved, the emojis are likely to go live for public use in 2019.

Apple proposes new emojis to represent people with disabilities

Apple Inc&#39;s Chief Executive Tim Cook on Saturday called for &quot;calm heads&quot; and more open trade, amid rising fears of a trade war between the United States and China.

Trade tension between China and the United States flared this week when President Donald Trump unveiled plans on Thursday to slap tariffs on potentially up to $60 billion in Chinese goods.

China&#39;s Commerce Ministry on Friday urged the United States to &quot;pull back from the brink&quot;, saying it was not afraid to engage in a trade war.

&quot;I&#39;m cognizant that in both the U.S. and China, there have been cases where everyone hasn&#39;t benefited, where the benefit hasn&#39;t been balanced,&quot; Cook said.

Speaking at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, Cook said he hoped &quot;calm heads&quot; would prevail.

The sparring has cast a spotlight on hardware makers such as Apple, which assemble the majority of their products in China for export to other countries. Electrical goods and tech are the largest U.S. import item from China.

In the past year, Apple and other foreign tech firms have grappled with a string of new regulatory requirements in China, including a controversial law requiring firms to house user data in data centers overseen by Chinese firms.

Last month, Apple officially moved to store keys for its iCloud data in China, provoking intense criticism from rights groups who say the decision makes it easier for Chinese officials to tap and collect private data.

Despite challenges, the company has sought to expand its services in China, its third-largest market, where roughly 1.8 million developers use its platform.

&quot;My belief is that businesses should be engaged with governments in countries where they are doing business, whether they agree or disagree,&quot; Cook said.

Cook has come to China several times in the past year, and was among executives who met Chinese President Xi Jinping last October.

&quot;My belief is that one plus one equals three. The pie gets larger, working together,&quot; Cook said.

Others attending the three-day forum include the chief executives of IBM Group , Google Inc and Qualcomm Inc.

Cook, who this year co-chaired the event, also attended last year when he called for China to increase trade and continue opening itself up to the world.

Cook was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual China Development Forum in Beijing.

Apple Inc's Chief Executive Tim Cook on Saturday called for "calm heads" and more open trade, amid rising fears of a trade war between the United States and China. Trade tension between China and the United States flared this week when President Donald Trump unveiled plans on Thursday to slap tariffs on potentially up to $60 billion in Chinese goods. China's Commerce Ministry on Friday urged the United States to "pull back from the brink", saying it was not afraid to engage in a trade war. "I'm cognizant that in both the U.S. and China, there have been cases where everyone hasn't benefited, where the benefit hasn't been balanced," Cook said. Speaking at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, Cook said he hoped "calm heads" would prevail. The sparring has cast a spotlight on hardware makers such as Apple, which assemble the majority of their products in China for export to other countries. Electrical goods and tech are the largest U.S. import item from China. In the past year, Apple and other foreign tech firms have grappled with a string of new regulatory requirements in China, including a controversial law requiring firms to house user data in data centers overseen by Chinese firms. Last month, Apple officially moved to store keys for its iCloud data in China, provoking intense criticism from rights groups who say the decision makes it easier for Chinese officials to tap and collect private data. Despite challenges, the company has sought to expand its services in China, its third-largest market, where roughly 1.8 million developers use its platform. "My belief is that businesses should be engaged with governments in countries where they are doing business, whether they agree or disagree," Cook said. Cook has come to China several times in the past year, and was among executives who met Chinese President Xi Jinping last October. "My belief is that one plus one equals three. The pie gets larger, working together," Cook said. Others attending the three-day forum include the chief executives of IBM Group , Google Inc and Qualcomm Inc. Cook, who this year co-chaired the event, also attended last year when he called for China to increase trade and continue opening itself up to the world.

Apple CEO calls for 'calm heads' and open trade, amid fears of US, China trade war

Word on the internet is that Apple may be launching a new range of iPads soon. Some say that it may happen during a special education-focused event at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago on March 27.&nbsp;

Other rumours that have been around the web are that Apple is also planning to unveil a cheaper MacBook Air and a new iPhone SE which could also happen during the event.

A new variant of the MacBook Air is expected to arrive &lsquo;with a lower price tag&rsquo;, a move that will help the company to push MacBook shipments up by 10-15 per cent this year. The MacBook Air has not seen an upgrade for sometime, unlike the MacBook Pro, though in 2017, Apple improved the Graphics and processor clock speed.

New entries in the Eurasian Economic Commission database, discovered by French blog Consomac and noticed by 9to5Mac, indicate Apple is preparing launch two new iPad models.

French blog Consomac unearthed filings for two new iPad models with the Eurasian Economic Commission database. Unfortunately, the official entry doesn&rsquo;t reveal any details about the hardware itself.

However, it does contain two model identifiers - A1893 and A1954.

Apple, on Friday, shared&nbsp;media invites for the event in Chicago, and, was rather vague about it. It features the Apple logo drawn in an artful way, with &#39;Let&#39;s take a field trip&#39; written below it.

Some say that the tech giant is launching the iPads which are in line with the company&#39;s push into the education sector and would be aimed at challenging Google&#39;s lead in classrooms with its Chromebook.&nbsp;

Apple has been pushing the concept of getting more schools to use iPads and some are speculating that the event will be used to reveal a budget version of the popular device aimed at students.

New iPad Pros are also long overdue &mdash; speculations are that this year&#39;s models might have slimmer bezels and Face ID &mdash; but Apple will most likely give out more information during its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC 18) in June.

Some say that it may happen during a special education-focused event at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago on March 27

Word on the internet is that Apple may be launching a new range of iPads soon. Some say that it may happen during a special education-focused event at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago on March 27. Other rumours that have been around the web are that Apple is also planning to unveil a cheaper MacBook Air and a new iPhone SE which could also happen during the event. A new variant of the MacBook Air is expected to arrive ‘with a lower price tag’, a move that will help the company to push MacBook shipments up by 10-15 per cent this year. The MacBook Air has not seen an upgrade for sometime, unlike the MacBook Pro, though in 2017, Apple improved the Graphics and processor clock speed. New entries in the Eurasian Economic Commission database, discovered by French blog Consomac and noticed by 9to5Mac, indicate Apple is preparing launch two new iPad models. French blog Consomac unearthed filings for two new iPad models with the Eurasian Economic Commission database. Unfortunately, the official entry doesn’t reveal any details about the hardware itself. However, it does contain two model identifiers - A1893 and A1954. Apple, on Friday, shared media invites for the event in Chicago, and, was rather vague about it. It features the Apple logo drawn in an artful way, with 'Let's take a field trip' written below it. Some say that the tech giant is launching the iPads which are in line with the company's push into the education sector and would be aimed at challenging Google's lead in classrooms with its Chromebook. Apple has been pushing the concept of getting more schools to use iPads and some are speculating that the event will be used to reveal a budget version of the popular device aimed at students. New iPad Pros are also long overdue — speculations are that this year's models might have slimmer bezels and Face ID — but Apple will most likely give out more information during its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC 18) in June.

Apple sends out media invites amid new Macbook Air rumour

Apple has reportedly blocked its app store access in Iran from Thursday afternoon.

What appears to be a ban, users are not able to install or uninstall any application, instead, the screen shows a message saying &#39;the App Store is unavailable in the country region you&#39;re in&#39;&nbsp;on their screen.

The app store restriction is IP address based as users have reported using the app store through virtual private network (VPN).

A tech support site Bleeping computer also quoted a researcher in their report&nbsp;saying that he was only able to access app store through VPN.

Apple has not issued any official statement regarding the restricted access.

Apple already does not&nbsp;sell its products in Iran due to US-imposed economic sanctions.

People import their iPhone&nbsp;from other countries.

Being a US company Apple has restricted its access in other ways in the past.

In 2017 all apps made by Iranian developers were removed from the store.

Many people on Twitter showed an outrage toward the company for blocking app store access.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/AppStore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AppStore</a> why is Iran blocked from the list of countries able to download or update the applications which are available for all the world?We are also human and we pay for your products. We should be able to use App Store!
&mdash; Sina Keshavarz (@Sina_Dreamer) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sina_Dreamer/status/973853292777193473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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So <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> officially did it finally ;( <a href="https://t.co/NboTdPoFpC">pic.twitter.com/NboTdPoFpC</a>
&mdash; Meysam Firouzi (@R00tkitSMM) <a href="https://twitter.com/R00tkitSMM/status/974320282436501504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I really feel sorry for <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a>&#39;s decision to completely <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ban?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ban</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iranian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iranian</a> users from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Appstore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Appstore</a>. We are humans and demand <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EqualRights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EqualRights</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/AppleSupport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AppleSupport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Apple?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Apple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopTheBan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StopTheBan</a> <a href="https://t.co/VWwPfo9TxF">pic.twitter.com/VWwPfo9TxF</a>
&mdash; Ali Fatehi (@fatehi1997) <a href="https://twitter.com/fatehi1997/status/974376036354977792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> what is the problem here? Your customer is not the Govt of Iran it is the people, the citizens of Iran. Why are you diss-ing them? All your customers, world-wide, feel this in a very negative way. Has the Persian customer done &quot;bad&quot; to you?<a href="https://t.co/YU5FA7ckqi">https://t.co/YU5FA7ckqi</a>
&mdash; Ric Fink (@ricfink) <a href="https://twitter.com/ricfink/status/974389228971835392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Outrageous move from <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@apple</a> to totally block <a href="https://twitter.com/AppStore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AppStore</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a>. Steve Job believed that &quot;Man is the creator of change in this world. As such, he should be above systems and structures, and not subordinate to them.&quot; For <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tim_cook</a> this excludes Iranians. <a href="https://t.co/Nwkx0Z9Mvl">https://t.co/Nwkx0Z9Mvl</a>
&mdash; Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (@yarbatman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yarbatman/status/974548525710110720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

What appears to be a ban, users are not able to install or uninstall any application

Apple has reportedly blocked its app store access in Iran from Thursday afternoon. What appears to be a ban, users are not able to install or uninstall any application, instead, the screen shows a message saying 'the App Store is unavailable in the country region you're in' on their screen. The app store restriction is IP address based as users have reported using the app store through virtual private network (VPN). A tech support site Bleeping computer also quoted a researcher in their report saying that he was only able to access app store through VPN. Apple has not issued any official statement regarding the restricted access. Apple already does not sell its products in Iran due to US-imposed economic sanctions. People import their iPhone from other countries. Being a US company Apple has restricted its access in other ways in the past. In 2017 all apps made by Iranian developers were removed from the store. Many people on Twitter showed an outrage toward the company for blocking app store access. @AppStore why is Iran blocked from the list of countries able to download or update the applications which are available for all the world?We are also human and we pay for your products. We should be able to use App Store! — Sina Keshavarz (@Sina_Dreamer) March 14, 2018 × So @Apple officially did it finally ;( pic.twitter.com/NboTdPoFpC — Meysam Firouzi (@R00tkitSMM) March 15, 2018 × I really feel sorry for @Apple's decision to completely #ban #Iranian users from the #Appstore. We are humans and demand #EqualRights. @AppleSupport #Iran #Apple #StopTheBan pic.twitter.com/VWwPfo9TxF — Ali Fatehi (@fatehi1997) March 15, 2018 × .@Apple what is the problem here? Your customer is not the Govt of Iran it is the people, the citizens of Iran. Why are you diss-ing them? All your customers, world-wide, feel this in a very negative way. Has the Persian customer done "bad" to you?https://t.co/YU5FA7ckqi — Ric Fink (@ricfink) March 15, 2018 × Outrageous move from @apple to totally block @AppStore in #Iran. Steve Job believed that "Man is the creator of change in this world. As such, he should be above systems and structures, and not subordinate to them." For @tim_cook this excludes Iranians. https://t.co/Nwkx0Z9Mvl — Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (@yarbatman) March 16, 2018 ×

Iranian iPhone users blocked from App Store: Reports

France will take legal action against Google and Apple for &quot;abusive business practices&quot;, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Wednesday.

&quot;I believe in an economy based on justice and I will take Google and Apple before the Paris Commercial Court for abusive business practices&quot; against French start-ups, Le Maire said on RTL radio. He added the action could result in penalties reaching several million euros.

France to take legal action against Google and Apple for 'abusive' practices

France will take legal action against Google and Apple for "abusive business practices", Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Wednesday. "I believe in an economy based on justice and I will take Google and Apple before the Paris Commercial Court for abusive business practices" against French start-ups, Le Maire said on RTL radio. He added the action could result in penalties reaching several million euros.

 France to take legal action against Google and Apple for 'abusive' practices

Apple Inc&nbsp;, the world`s most valuable publicly listed company, is in danger of being beaten by Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;to the $1 trillion mark.

Wall Street`s optimism about last year`s 10th anniversary iPhone had propelled Apple`s stock 24 percent higher over the past 12 months, giving it a market capitalization of $893 billion.&nbsp;

That is $141 billion more than the $752 billion market value of Amazon, the world`s third most valuable publicly listed company, but Amazon has been quickly closing the gap. Amazon`s stock has surged 83 percent over the past year, bolstered by scorchingly fast revenue growth as more shopping moves online and businesses shift their computing operations to the cloud, where Amazon Web Services leads the market.&nbsp;

In January, Amazon announced that it, Berkshire Hathaway Inc&nbsp;and JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co&nbsp;would form a company to cut health care costs for their employees, which was widely seen as a threat to the existing U.S. healthcare system and underscored Amazon`s ability to disrupt markets.

Amazon dislodged Microsoft Corp&nbsp;as the No. 3 U.S. company by market capitalization in February.

At $783 billion, Alphabet Inc&nbsp;has the second largest market capitalization. The Google parent company`s stock has grown about 33 percent over the past year, faster than Apple but far slower than Amazon. 
Meanwhile, optimism about Apple`s iPhone X has given way to concerns that demand for the $1,000 device may be weaker than expected.

To be sure, past stock gains are not a reliable predictor of future performance, and the surge in Amazon shares in recent years has been exceptional by most standards.

But if Amazon`s stock were to keep growing on the trajectory seen over the past year, the company`s market capitalization would hit $1 trillion in late August. Apple would reach $1 trillion around a week later if its stock price continued to rise at the same pace seen over the past year.

Alphabet would not reach $1 trillion until 2019 if its stock price continued to rise at the same pace seen over the past year.Most Wall Street analysts are not quite that enthusiastic about the growth of Apple and Amazon. Analysts on average expect Apple`s stock price to rise 11 percent and reach $195 within the next 12 months, which would put its market capitalization at $989 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data.&nbsp;

Analysts covering Amazon on average expect its stock to rise 10 percent within the next year to reach $1,700, which would give it a market value of $823 billion.&nbsp;

Apple on Thursday was up 0.60 percent at $176.05, while Amazon rose 0.31 percent to $1,549.90.&nbsp;

Apple on Thursday was up 0.60 percent at $176.05, while Amazon rose 0.31 percent to $1,549.90

Apple Inc , the world`s most valuable publicly listed company, is in danger of being beaten by Amazon.com Inc to the $1 trillion mark. Wall Street`s optimism about last year`s 10th anniversary iPhone had propelled Apple`s stock 24 percent higher over the past 12 months, giving it a market capitalization of $893 billion. That is $141 billion more than the $752 billion market value of Amazon, the world`s third most valuable publicly listed company, but Amazon has been quickly closing the gap. Amazon`s stock has surged 83 percent over the past year, bolstered by scorchingly fast revenue growth as more shopping moves online and businesses shift their computing operations to the cloud, where Amazon Web Services leads the market. In January, Amazon announced that it, Berkshire Hathaway Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co would form a company to cut health care costs for their employees, which was widely seen as a threat to the existing U.S. healthcare system and underscored Amazon`s ability to disrupt markets. Amazon dislodged Microsoft Corp as the No. 3 U.S. company by market capitalization in February. At $783 billion, Alphabet Inc has the second largest market capitalization. The Google parent company`s stock has grown about 33 percent over the past year, faster than Apple but far slower than Amazon. Meanwhile, optimism about Apple`s iPhone X has given way to concerns that demand for the $1,000 device may be weaker than expected. To be sure, past stock gains are not a reliable predictor of future performance, and the surge in Amazon shares in recent years has been exceptional by most standards. But if Amazon`s stock were to keep growing on the trajectory seen over the past year, the company`s market capitalization would hit $1 trillion in late August. Apple would reach $1 trillion around a week later if its stock price continued to rise at the same pace seen over the past year. Alphabet would not reach $1 trillion until 2019 if its stock price continued to rise at the same pace seen over the past year.Most Wall Street analysts are not quite that enthusiastic about the growth of Apple and Amazon. Analysts on average expect Apple`s stock price to rise 11 percent and reach $195 within the next 12 months, which would put its market capitalization at $989 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data. Analysts covering Amazon on average expect its stock to rise 10 percent within the next year to reach $1,700, which would give it a market value of $823 billion. Apple on Thursday was up 0.60 percent at $176.05, while Amazon rose 0.31 percent to $1,549.90.

Hold the iPhone! Amazon primed to be larger than Apple

Babies, dogs and artificial intelligence.

Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google is betting this combination proves irresistible with the Tuesday launch of Google Clips, a pocket-sized digital camera that decides on its own whether an image is interesting enough to shoot.

The $249 device, which is designed to clip onto furniture or other fixed objects, automatically captures subjects that wander into its viewfinder. But unlike some trail or security cameras that are triggered by motion or programmed on timers, Clips is more discerning. Google has trained its electronic brain to recognise smiles, human faces, dogs, cats and rapid sequences of movement.

The company sees big potential with parents and pet owners looking to grab candid shots of kids and animals. The Clip shoots seven-second videos, without audio, that can be edited into GIFs or high-definition photos. These images can then be downloaded and shared via smartphone.

But Google&#39;s bigger ambition is the mastery - and commercialization - of artificial intelligence, an area where it is investing big. Google executives say success requires tight integration between hardware and software, which is why the search-engine giant keeps plugging away at consumer electronics.

The company has yet to dominate with its devices, though its Google Home smart speakers, Chromecast TV dongles and Pixel smartphones have all won high marks from consumers.

Each new gadget wires customers more deeply into its suite of services, which will be essential as Google competes with Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Facebook Inc to be a primary hub for entertainment and shopping.

Google is sharpening its focus with each effort. With its Clips smart camera, the company is trying to hook shutterbugs with a soft introduction to artificial intelligence.

&quot;Being able to have cameras identify what&rsquo;s happening in the home, without having to filter through recordings, this is where the market for video in the home is moving,&quot; said Blake Kozak, principal analyst at IHS Markit.

Some analysts are dubious that Clips will be a blockbuster in a marketplace crowded with digital cameras. Its price could prove too high to justify its narrow uses. Alternatives such as pet camera Petcube, for example, provide more functionality, including remote monitoring. Lack of audio, limited battery life and privacy concerns could further limit Clips&#39; appeal.

But the device is nonetheless an important demonstration of Google&rsquo;s advances in computer vision, a form of artificial intelligence focused on identifying objects, according to Cyril Ebersweiler, founder of the hardware business incubator HAX.

&ldquo;The next thing after sound will be computer vision, and they can&#39;t allow (themselves) not to be doing something,&quot; Ebersweiler said.

THE NEW CANDID CAMERA

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Google Clips, a pocket-sized digital camera is pictured in San Francisco, California, on February 26, 2018. (Reuters)
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&nbsp;

Google says Clips, which was announced in October, is the outgrowth of years of research into what people like about their favourite images. Consumers overwhelmingly preferred candid shots as opposed to ubiquitous selfies and other posed photos. But casual photographers often cannot whip out their phones in time to catch the action. And many subjects become self-conscious when they know a camera is pointed their way.

&quot;There is gold in between the photos you take&quot; with smartphones, Juston Payne, product lead for Google Clips, told reporters this month. &quot;This camera gets at those moments.&quot;

Payne said his team had no mandate to develop a stand-alone camera. They could have packed more software into smartphone cameras, for instance.

But he said a dedicated device that could fade into the background proved to be the best solution for naturalistic photography. Measuring 2 inches by 2 inches and weighing two ounces, Clips can be hung from a drawer handle or a tree branch at the playground. Payne said the gadget is not meant to be worn.

The camera captures the best shots when subjects are about three feet away and in its frame. It operates three hours on a charge.

Clips is being sold at Best Buy and Verizon retail outlets as well as Google&#39;s online store.

Google says it attempted to address privacy concerns by placing white lights on Clips to alert subjects when the camera is filming. It also intentionally avoided giving the camera a direct connection to the cloud.

The device&#39;s lack of sound may disappoint consumers, but Payne said audio would have encouraged people to film themselves while skydiving or skiing, pursuits the gadget&#39;s auto-capture technology is not yet capable of handling.

Michael Kim, a product design consultant at Kim Advisory Capital, said Clips could be convenient as an &quot;ambient photographer.&quot; But he questioned whether such a pricey &quot;novelty toy&quot; could win a large following.

The company has yet to dominate with its devices, though its Google Home smart speakers, Chromecast TV dongles and Pixel smartphones have all won high marks from consumers.

Babies, dogs and artificial intelligence. Alphabet Inc's Google is betting this combination proves irresistible with the Tuesday launch of Google Clips, a pocket-sized digital camera that decides on its own whether an image is interesting enough to shoot. The $249 device, which is designed to clip onto furniture or other fixed objects, automatically captures subjects that wander into its viewfinder. But unlike some trail or security cameras that are triggered by motion or programmed on timers, Clips is more discerning. Google has trained its electronic brain to recognise smiles, human faces, dogs, cats and rapid sequences of movement. The company sees big potential with parents and pet owners looking to grab candid shots of kids and animals. The Clip shoots seven-second videos, without audio, that can be edited into GIFs or high-definition photos. These images can then be downloaded and shared via smartphone. But Google's bigger ambition is the mastery - and commercialization - of artificial intelligence, an area where it is investing big. Google executives say success requires tight integration between hardware and software, which is why the search-engine giant keeps plugging away at consumer electronics. The company has yet to dominate with its devices, though its Google Home smart speakers, Chromecast TV dongles and Pixel smartphones have all won high marks from consumers. Each new gadget wires customers more deeply into its suite of services, which will be essential as Google competes with Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Facebook Inc to be a primary hub for entertainment and shopping. Google is sharpening its focus with each effort. With its Clips smart camera, the company is trying to hook shutterbugs with a soft introduction to artificial intelligence. "Being able to have cameras identify what’s happening in the home, without having to filter through recordings, this is where the market for video in the home is moving," said Blake Kozak, principal analyst at IHS Markit. Some analysts are dubious that Clips will be a blockbuster in a marketplace crowded with digital cameras. Its price could prove too high to justify its narrow uses. Alternatives such as pet camera Petcube, for example, provide more functionality, including remote monitoring. Lack of audio, limited battery life and privacy concerns could further limit Clips' appeal. But the device is nonetheless an important demonstration of Google’s advances in computer vision, a form of artificial intelligence focused on identifying objects, according to Cyril Ebersweiler, founder of the hardware business incubator HAX. “The next thing after sound will be computer vision, and they can't allow (themselves) not to be doing something," Ebersweiler said. THE NEW CANDID CAMERA Google Clips, a pocket-sized digital camera is pictured in San Francisco, California, on February 26, 2018. (Reuters) × Google says Clips, which was announced in October, is the outgrowth of years of research into what people like about their favourite images. Consumers overwhelmingly preferred candid shots as opposed to ubiquitous selfies and other posed photos. But casual photographers often cannot whip out their phones in time to catch the action. And many subjects become self-conscious when they know a camera is pointed their way. "There is gold in between the photos you take" with smartphones, Juston Payne, product lead for Google Clips, told reporters this month. "This camera gets at those moments." Payne said his team had no mandate to develop a stand-alone camera. They could have packed more software into smartphone cameras, for instance. But he said a dedicated device that could fade into the background proved to be the best solution for naturalistic photography. Measuring 2 inches by 2 inches and weighing two ounces, Clips can be hung from a drawer handle or a tree branch at the playground. Payne said the gadget is not meant to be worn. The camera captures the best shots when subjects are about three feet away and in its frame. It operates three hours on a charge. Clips is being sold at Best Buy and Verizon retail outlets as well as Google's online store. Google says it attempted to address privacy concerns by placing white lights on Clips to alert subjects when the camera is filming. It also intentionally avoided giving the camera a direct connection to the cloud. The device's lack of sound may disappoint consumers, but Payne said audio would have encouraged people to film themselves while skydiving or skiing, pursuits the gadget's auto-capture technology is not yet capable of handling. Michael Kim, a product design consultant at Kim Advisory Capital, said Clips could be convenient as an "ambient photographer." But he questioned whether such a pricey "novelty toy" could win a large following.

Google's Clips camera is latest effort to bring AI into home gadgets

Apple is preparing to release three new smartphones later this year, including the largest iPhone ever, a device that may have a bigger display than arch-rival Samsung&#39;s flagship phone, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the products.

The trio also includes an upgraded handset the same size as the current iPhone X and a less expensive model with some of the X&#39;s key features.

The new phones could revive the screen size wars of years past at a time when smartphone makers are straining to come up with new features to lure buyers in a saturated market. Global smartphone sales were down 0.1 per cent last year, according to research firm IDC, with Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd expanding shipments only 1.9 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively.

The iPhone maker is already running production tests with suppliers and is expected to announce the new phones this fall. However, the plans could still change, the report said.&nbsp;

Apple declined to comment. Its shares were up almost 2 per cent at $178.95 in midday trade. Earlier in the day, billionaire Warren Buffett talked up his company&#39;s stake in the iPhone maker, which also helped boost shares.

Bloomberg reported the largest iPhone could have a screen of close to 6.5 inches (16.5 cm), larger than the 6.2-inch (15.75 cm) Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus announced on Monday in Barcelona, Spain, and larger than the current Samsung Note 8&#39;s 6.3-inch screen. Samsung traditionally announces new Note series devices in the fall, so it is possible it might launch a larger screen around the same time Apple&#39;s new models hit the market.

But Bob O&#39;Donnell, head of Technalysis Research, said the reported trio of new iPhones was &quot;a very logical extension of the product line&quot; for Apple: &quot;One bigger, one cheaper, and one upgrade to the existing iPhone X.&quot;

The Cupertino-based company earlier this month forecast disappointing revenue of $60 billion to $62 billion for its fiscal second quarter ending in March, with a number of media reports pointing to slack demand for iPhone X after unit sales failed to meet expectations in the run-up to Christmas.

With global smartphone sales roughly flat, vendors are focusing on features designed to encourage consumers to ditch their old phones earlier than they would have previously.

&quot;The whole nature of smartphone purchase decisions have changed,&quot; O&#39;Donnell said. &quot;It&#39;s not about what is the newest, greatest model. It&#39;s about when is my phone so old I need to upgrade, and what&#39;s available when I need a new one.&quot;

Samsung on Sunday unveiled its flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone with an emphasis on visual applications for social media, improved cameras, and an artificial intelligence-powered voice tool.

Bloomberg said the body of the larger phone will be about the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but the screen will be about an inch larger than 8 Plus&#39;s, thanks to edge-to-edge design. Apple also plans a gold-colored device to help boost sales in Asia, Bloomberg reported.

Apple is also preparing an update to the regular-sized iPhone X, Bloomberg said, adding that the phones are expected to use next-generation A12 processors and will continue to include stainless steel edges and will be Apple&#39;s high-end smartphone offerings.

What remains unclear is whether Apple will also cut any current iPhone models from its lineup. The company has kept older models like the iPhone SE - essentially an updated iPhone 5 - on shelves to an unprecedented degree, providing lower-priced offerings for developing markets like India.

Apple has also embraced the used iPhone market as a way to expand its share of smartphone users. When customers sell their old iPhone for a new one, the old iPhone &ldquo;winds up with another customer somewhere else that is perfectly fine with having a previously owned iPhone,&quot; CEO Tim Cook told investors on an earnings call earlier this month.

Apple is preparing to release three new smartphones later this year, including the largest iPhone ever

Apple is preparing to release three new smartphones later this year, including the largest iPhone ever, a device that may have a bigger display than arch-rival Samsung's flagship phone, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the products. The trio also includes an upgraded handset the same size as the current iPhone X and a less expensive model with some of the X's key features. The new phones could revive the screen size wars of years past at a time when smartphone makers are straining to come up with new features to lure buyers in a saturated market. Global smartphone sales were down 0.1 per cent last year, according to research firm IDC, with Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd expanding shipments only 1.9 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively. The iPhone maker is already running production tests with suppliers and is expected to announce the new phones this fall. However, the plans could still change, the report said. Apple declined to comment. Its shares were up almost 2 per cent at $178.95 in midday trade. Earlier in the day, billionaire Warren Buffett talked up his company's stake in the iPhone maker, which also helped boost shares. Bloomberg reported the largest iPhone could have a screen of close to 6.5 inches (16.5 cm), larger than the 6.2-inch (15.75 cm) Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus announced on Monday in Barcelona, Spain, and larger than the current Samsung Note 8's 6.3-inch screen. Samsung traditionally announces new Note series devices in the fall, so it is possible it might launch a larger screen around the same time Apple's new models hit the market. But Bob O'Donnell, head of Technalysis Research, said the reported trio of new iPhones was "a very logical extension of the product line" for Apple: "One bigger, one cheaper, and one upgrade to the existing iPhone X." The Cupertino-based company earlier this month forecast disappointing revenue of $60 billion to $62 billion for its fiscal second quarter ending in March, with a number of media reports pointing to slack demand for iPhone X after unit sales failed to meet expectations in the run-up to Christmas. With global smartphone sales roughly flat, vendors are focusing on features designed to encourage consumers to ditch their old phones earlier than they would have previously. "The whole nature of smartphone purchase decisions have changed," O'Donnell said. "It's not about what is the newest, greatest model. It's about when is my phone so old I need to upgrade, and what's available when I need a new one." Samsung on Sunday unveiled its flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone with an emphasis on visual applications for social media, improved cameras, and an artificial intelligence-powered voice tool. Bloomberg said the body of the larger phone will be about the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but the screen will be about an inch larger than 8 Plus's, thanks to edge-to-edge design. Apple also plans a gold-colored device to help boost sales in Asia, Bloomberg reported. Apple is also preparing an update to the regular-sized iPhone X, Bloomberg said, adding that the phones are expected to use next-generation A12 processors and will continue to include stainless steel edges and will be Apple's high-end smartphone offerings. What remains unclear is whether Apple will also cut any current iPhone models from its lineup. The company has kept older models like the iPhone SE - essentially an updated iPhone 5 - on shelves to an unprecedented degree, providing lower-priced offerings for developing markets like India. Apple has also embraced the used iPhone market as a way to expand its share of smartphone users. When customers sell their old iPhone for a new one, the old iPhone “winds up with another customer somewhere else that is perfectly fine with having a previously owned iPhone," CEO Tim Cook told investors on an earnings call earlier this month.

Apple plans biggest iPhone yet for 2018: Report

The Finnish company affiliated with Nokia, HMD global unveiled&nbsp;new Nokia phones on Sunday during the ongoing Mobile World Congress.

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Phones that were launched are Nokia 1, Nokia 7 plus (new version of Nokia 6) and Nokia 8 Sirocco,&nbsp;Nokia 8110 4g.

Nokia 1 and&nbsp;Nokia 8110 4g were the key highlights&nbsp;of the launch.

A mid-range phone Nokia 1 is basic feature phone but what is interesting about this is that it is a first Android Go phone.

Android go was launched by Google in 2017 for phones with RAM up to 1 GB targeting&nbsp;markets with expensive data plans like India.

Android go gives full access to Google play store and comes with preloaded reworked google apps like YouTube go and Gmail go.

It also comes with 8 GB internal storage which is expandable up to 128 GB.

It also has 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and front 2-megapixel front camera.

The users buying Nokia 1 will have two colour variants to choose from, warm red and dark blue.

Nokia is priced at $85 and&nbsp;will available from early&nbsp;April.

The phone&#39;s expected price in India would be around 5,000 rupees.

Priced at $921, Nokia 8 Sirocco was also launched and is part of the Nokia premium range smartphones.

According to reports Nokia 8 Sirocco is targetted to compete with Apple and Samsung phones.

Nokia 8 Sirocco with 5.5-inch screen has&nbsp;features like wireless charging, dual camera.

Upgraded version of Nokia 6, Nokia 7 plus is priced at $491 and runs on Android operating system.

Nokia 8110 4g is an upgraded version of Nokia 8110 which was launched in 1996.

Similarly, in Mobile World Congress of 2017, the company launched the remake of its another iconic phone Nokia 3310.

Phones that were launched are Nokia 1, Nokia 7 plus (new version of Nokia 6) and Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8110 4g

The Finnish company affiliated with Nokia, HMD global unveiled new Nokia phones on Sunday during the ongoing Mobile World Congress. × Phones that were launched are Nokia 1, Nokia 7 plus (new version of Nokia 6) and Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8110 4g. Nokia 1 and Nokia 8110 4g were the key highlights of the launch. A mid-range phone Nokia 1 is basic feature phone but what is interesting about this is that it is a first Android Go phone. Android go was launched by Google in 2017 for phones with RAM up to 1 GB targeting markets with expensive data plans like India. Android go gives full access to Google play store and comes with preloaded reworked google apps like YouTube go and Gmail go. It also comes with 8 GB internal storage which is expandable up to 128 GB. It also has 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and front 2-megapixel front camera. The users buying Nokia 1 will have two colour variants to choose from, warm red and dark blue. Nokia is priced at $85 and will available from early April. The phone's expected price in India would be around 5,000 rupees. Priced at $921, Nokia 8 Sirocco was also launched and is part of the Nokia premium range smartphones. According to reports Nokia 8 Sirocco is targetted to compete with Apple and Samsung phones. Nokia 8 Sirocco with 5.5-inch screen has features like wireless charging, dual camera. Upgraded version of Nokia 6, Nokia 7 plus is priced at $491 and runs on Android operating system. Nokia 8110 4g is an upgraded version of Nokia 8110 which was launched in 1996. Similarly, in Mobile World Congress of 2017, the company launched the remake of its another iconic phone Nokia 3310.

New Nokia smartphones launched in Mobile World Congress

Samsung launched its flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone on Sunday and people are already talking about its comparison with Apple&#39;s iPhone X.&nbsp;

Although Samsung has similar appearances, it comes with several new exclusive features and upgrades including the latest Exynos 9810 SoC (Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC in some regions), improved cameras, and new AR emojis. Apart from that, the Galaxy S9 series bears full-screen displays with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Also read: &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/samsung-galaxy-s9-galaxy-s9-will-be-available-in-india-in-march-34073">Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ will be available in India in March</a>

Samsung&#39;s biggest focus has been on visual applications with its introduction of AR Emoji which rivals Apple&#39;s iPhone X feature called Animoji&nbsp;which allows a user to take a selfie and turn it into their own custom emoji. The camera can track a person&#39;s face and mimic their facial expression on the digital version of themselves too. Samsung is introducing a similar feature with the S9, but rather than using existing emojis&nbsp;it will let you create an avatar of yourself and animate that instead. These can be shared as videos of animated GIFs via email or text message.

Samsung has included the S9 Plus with two cameras - a wide-angle, and a telephoto, similar to the iPhone X and both capture at a resolution of 12 megapixels which is als. Samsung even mounts the two lenses of the S9 Plus vertically something Apple also does with its flagship.&nbsp;

The difference is in the low-light performance. While taking a picture with S9 and S9+, one can capture 12 images at the same time and then compares all exposures to build a single picture that includes all the right specifications required but with little grain and noise as possible. The iPhone X, on the other hand, processes high-dynamic range photos, taking three images at different levels of light exposure to combine them to produce a richer, more balanced image.

Another significant difference between the two phones is the price. While the Samsung Galaxy S9 starts at a price of $720 and the Galaxy S9+ starts at a price of $840, which is $250 less than the arch-rival iPhone X which costs $999.&nbsp;

Also, Apple comes with built-in storage of upto 256GB but does not offer any expansion with a removable SD memory. But Samsung does with the S9. It&rsquo;ll have 64GB built in, but it supports Micro SD cards with up to 400GB of additional capacity.

&nbsp;

Samsung launched its flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone on Sunday and people are already talking about its comparison with Apple's iPhone X.

Samsung launched its flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone on Sunday and people are already talking about its comparison with Apple's iPhone X. Although Samsung has similar appearances, it comes with several new exclusive features and upgrades including the latest Exynos 9810 SoC (Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC in some regions), improved cameras, and new AR emojis. Apart from that, the Galaxy S9 series bears full-screen displays with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ will be available in India in March Samsung's biggest focus has been on visual applications with its introduction of AR Emoji which rivals Apple's iPhone X feature called Animoji which allows a user to take a selfie and turn it into their own custom emoji. The camera can track a person's face and mimic their facial expression on the digital version of themselves too. Samsung is introducing a similar feature with the S9, but rather than using existing emojis it will let you create an avatar of yourself and animate that instead. These can be shared as videos of animated GIFs via email or text message. Samsung has included the S9 Plus with two cameras - a wide-angle, and a telephoto, similar to the iPhone X and both capture at a resolution of 12 megapixels which is als. Samsung even mounts the two lenses of the S9 Plus vertically something Apple also does with its flagship. The difference is in the low-light performance. While taking a picture with S9 and S9+, one can capture 12 images at the same time and then compares all exposures to build a single picture that includes all the right specifications required but with little grain and noise as possible. The iPhone X, on the other hand, processes high-dynamic range photos, taking three images at different levels of light exposure to combine them to produce a richer, more balanced image. Another significant difference between the two phones is the price. While the Samsung Galaxy S9 starts at a price of $720 and the Galaxy S9+ starts at a price of $840, which is $250 less than the arch-rival iPhone X which costs $999. Also, Apple comes with built-in storage of upto 256GB but does not offer any expansion with a removable SD memory. But Samsung does with the S9. It’ll have 64GB built in, but it supports Micro SD cards with up to 400GB of additional capacity.

Is Samsung Galaxy S9 better than iPhone X?

A job application filled out by Steve Jobs more than four decades ago that reflects the Apple founder&#39;s aspirations to work in technology and design will go up for auction next month.

With an estimated value of about $50,000, the one-page application from 1973, complete with spelling and punctuation errors, lists his name as &quot;Steven jobs&quot; and address as &quot;reed college,&quot; the Oregon college he attended briefly, Boston auction house RR Auction said on Thursday.

Under a section titled &quot;Special Abilities,&quot; Jobs wrote &quot;tech or design engineer. digital.--from Bay near Hewitt-Packard,&quot; a reference to pioneering California technology company Hewlett-Packard.

The document but does not state what position Jobs was applying for. Jobs and friend Steve Wozniak founded Apple about three years later. Jobs died of cancer in 2011 at the age of 56.

Though Jobs responded on the form that he had a driver&#39;s license, he said his access to transportation was &quot;possible, but not probable.&quot; Next to &quot;Phone:&quot; he wrote &quot;none.&quot;

The document will be part of a pop culture sale by RR Auction that will take place between March 8 and 15.

Two other Jobs items will appear in the same auction - a Mac OS X technical manual signed by Jobs in 2001, valued at $25,000, and a signed 2008 newspaper clipping, valued at $15,000, with a photo of Jobs and a headline that reads &quot;New, faster iPhone will sell for $199.&quot; 
&nbsp; 
The auction will also feature an original fingerprint card from Jimi Hendrix&#39;s 1969 arrest in Toronto on drug charges, signed by the late rock musician, which is valued at $15,000.

It will include a love letter from the late British singer Amy Winehouse to her husband Blake Fielder-Civil. In addition to the text, the one-page Winehouse letter features a sketch of a baby crocodile surrounded by hearts.

&quot;Do nothing &#39;til you hear from me handsome, I need your arms around me so I can inhale, open my eyes, breathe my heart&#39;s breathe out,&quot; the letter reads, in part. It is valued at about $4,000.

Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in London in 2011 at age of 27.&nbsp;

The document will be part of a pop culture sale by RR Auction that will take place between March 8 and 15

A job application filled out by Steve Jobs more than four decades ago that reflects the Apple founder's aspirations to work in technology and design will go up for auction next month. With an estimated value of about $50,000, the one-page application from 1973, complete with spelling and punctuation errors, lists his name as "Steven jobs" and address as "reed college," the Oregon college he attended briefly, Boston auction house RR Auction said on Thursday. Under a section titled "Special Abilities," Jobs wrote "tech or design engineer. digital.--from Bay near Hewitt-Packard," a reference to pioneering California technology company Hewlett-Packard. The document but does not state what position Jobs was applying for. Jobs and friend Steve Wozniak founded Apple about three years later. Jobs died of cancer in 2011 at the age of 56. Though Jobs responded on the form that he had a driver's license, he said his access to transportation was "possible, but not probable." Next to "Phone:" he wrote "none." The document will be part of a pop culture sale by RR Auction that will take place between March 8 and 15. Two other Jobs items will appear in the same auction - a Mac OS X technical manual signed by Jobs in 2001, valued at $25,000, and a signed 2008 newspaper clipping, valued at $15,000, with a photo of Jobs and a headline that reads "New, faster iPhone will sell for $199." The auction will also feature an original fingerprint card from Jimi Hendrix's 1969 arrest in Toronto on drug charges, signed by the late rock musician, which is valued at $15,000. It will include a love letter from the late British singer Amy Winehouse to her husband Blake Fielder-Civil. In addition to the text, the one-page Winehouse letter features a sketch of a baby crocodile surrounded by hearts. "Do nothing 'til you hear from me handsome, I need your arms around me so I can inhale, open my eyes, breathe my heart's breathe out," the letter reads, in part. It is valued at about $4,000. Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in London in 2011 at age of 27.

Steve Jobs' pre-Apple job application could fetch $50,000 at auction

Apple Inc said on Thursday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apples-revenue-outlook-not-as-bad-as-some-feared-analysts-31600">a bug in some versions of its operating </a>systems is causing its devices to crash when a single character in Telugu is sent to the device or typed in text editor.

The company was working on a fix for the iOS 11, the macOS High Sierra, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 versions that the bug affects, an Apple spokesperson said.

The company said older versions were not affected by the bug and added that Apple had already fixed the issue in the current beta versions of the operating systems.

Devices running on iOS 11 are affected and crash when any application receives the character, tech news website The Verge reported.&nbsp;

Apps become unresponsive, including Apple&#39;s iMessage and third-party applications like WhatsApp, Gmail and Facebook messenger, the news report said.

However, some apps like Telegram and Skype seem to be unaffected, the report said, adding that an Italian blog Mobile World spotted the bug.

The company was working on a fix for the iOS 11, the macOS High Sierra, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 versions that the bug affects

Apple Inc said on Thursday a bug in some versions of its operating systems is causing its devices to crash when a single character in Telugu is sent to the device or typed in text editor. The company was working on a fix for the iOS 11, the macOS High Sierra, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 versions that the bug affects, an Apple spokesperson said. The company said older versions were not affected by the bug and added that Apple had already fixed the issue in the current beta versions of the operating systems. Devices running on iOS 11 are affected and crash when any application receives the character, tech news website The Verge reported. Apps become unresponsive, including Apple's iMessage and third-party applications like WhatsApp, Gmail and Facebook messenger, the news report said. However, some apps like Telegram and Skype seem to be unaffected, the report said, adding that an Italian blog Mobile World spotted the bug.

Working to fix Telugu script bug causing device crash: Apple

Multinational tech giant Apple is all set to join hands with the Malala Fund in a bid to empower girl education in India.&nbsp;

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The Malala Fund, led by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai aims to fight for girls&#39;&nbsp;right to free, quality education.&nbsp;

Apple&#39;s support is expected to extend secondary education opportunities to over 100,000 girls.

&quot;With Apple&rsquo;s support, Malala Fund expects to double the number of grants awarded by its Gulmakai Network and extend funding programs to India and Latin America with the initial goal of extending secondary education opportunities to more than 100,000 girls,&quot; noted the official release.&nbsp;

Malala&#39;s Fund &#39;Gulmakai Network&#39; undertakes programmes in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Turkey and Nigeria.&nbsp;

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Impressive news today: Apple supports Malala Fund! 
 
&quot;Apple and Malala Fund today announced that Apple will... <a href="https://t.co/z1tlkh8zqS">https://t.co/z1tlkh8zqS</a>
&mdash; Nobel Peace Summit (@nobelforpeace) <a href="https://twitter.com/nobelforpeace/status/955360982238486528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&ldquo;Through both their innovations and philanthropy, Apple has helped educate and empower people around the world. I am grateful that Apple knows the value of investing in girls and is joining Malala Fund in the fight to ensure all girls can learn and lead without fear,&rdquo; Malala was quoted in Apple&#39;s release.

Tim Cook-led Apple will be the first partner of the fund which aims to provide 12 years of free education to girls.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will also be on the Fund leadership council.&nbsp;

The company will also assist Malala Fund with technological solutions, curriculum and policy research.&nbsp;

Malala Fund started in the year 2013 and has been working in collaboration with organisations, private bodies and governments all across the globe.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Apple CEO Tim Cook will also be on the Fund leadership council.

Multinational tech giant Apple is all set to join hands with the Malala Fund in a bid to empower girl education in India. × The Malala Fund, led by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai aims to fight for girls' right to free, quality education. Apple's support is expected to extend secondary education opportunities to over 100,000 girls. "With Apple’s support, Malala Fund expects to double the number of grants awarded by its Gulmakai Network and extend funding programs to India and Latin America with the initial goal of extending secondary education opportunities to more than 100,000 girls," noted the official release. Malala's Fund 'Gulmakai Network' undertakes programmes in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Turkey and Nigeria. Impressive news today: Apple supports Malala Fund! "Apple and Malala Fund today announced that Apple will... https://t.co/z1tlkh8zqS — Nobel Peace Summit (@nobelforpeace) January 22, 2018 × “Through both their innovations and philanthropy, Apple has helped educate and empower people around the world. I am grateful that Apple knows the value of investing in girls and is joining Malala Fund in the fight to ensure all girls can learn and lead without fear,” Malala was quoted in Apple's release. Tim Cook-led Apple will be the first partner of the fund which aims to provide 12 years of free education to girls. Apple CEO Tim Cook will also be on the Fund leadership council. The company will also assist Malala Fund with technological solutions, curriculum and policy research. Malala Fund started in the year 2013 and has been working in collaboration with organisations, private bodies and governments all across the globe.

Apple to support Malala Fund to empower Indian girls

Apple&nbsp;Inc&#39;s&nbsp;move on Wednesday to give iPhone owners information about the health of their batteries reverses the company&#39;s longstanding refusal to make such information available directly on iPhones and iPads, even though battery health has long been easy to check on&nbsp;Apple&#39;s Mac computers.

Apple&nbsp;said an update to its iOS operating system will show the phone&#39;s battery health and recommend whether the battery needs to be replaced. It will also let users turn off a controversial piece of software that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-admits-slowing-down-older-iphones-27401" target="_blank">slows the phone&#39;s performance</a> in some situations when the battery is flagging.

Apple&nbsp;acknowledged in December that its software sometimes deliberately slows phones with weak batteries.&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-apologises-for-slowing-iphones-offers-discounted-batteries-28006" target="_blank">apologised and lowered the price of battery replacements</a> in its stores from $79 to $29 for affected phones.

Critics say&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;has obfuscated the fact that a worn-out battery not only fails to hold a charge, it also degrades the phone&#39;s performance. The company&#39;s lack of transparency on the issue has pushed people to buy a new phone rather than a new battery, these people say.

&quot;The battery wears out,&quot; said Kyle Wiens, chief executive of iFixit, which publishes repair guides for iPhones and sells replacement parts. &quot;They have been pretending like the battery doesn&#39;t wear out. They&#39;ve made billions of dollars on that pretence.&quot;

Apple&nbsp;has always banned battery-health apps from the App Store for security reasons. While a few developers had found ways around the restrictions, their apps stopped showing a key piece of information - the &quot;charge cycle count,&quot; or how many times the battery has been drained and recharged - after a 2016 software update.

Rogerio Hirooka of Lirum Labs said his company&#39;s app lost charge cycle counts in 2016 but can still provide information on charge capacity, which can be used to determine whether the battery is at the end of its life. He said a routine bug-fix for the app was rejected by&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;in December, just before&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;acknowledged the battery-slowing issue.

Apple&nbsp;rejected his app because it provides &quot;potentially inaccurate diagnostic functionality&quot; that could &quot;mislead or confuse your users,&quot; according to documents from the app review process seen by Reuters.&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;explains that &quot;there is no publicly available infrastructure to support iOS diagnostic analysis,&quot; according to the documents.

Apple&nbsp;declined to comment on why battery diagnosis is available on the Mac but not on the iPhone, or why it rejected the update to Hirooka&#39;s app.

&quot;That fact that they tell you (battery health) on the Mac but it&#39;s a forbidden secret on the iPhone is crazy,&quot; Wiens said.

All lithium-ion batteries degrade over time. Until the software update announced Wednesday becomes available - and&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;has not given a specific date - the only way to check an iPhone battery is to take the device to an&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;Store or hook the phone up to a Mac computer running special third-party software.

Repair advocates have long criticized&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;and other technology companies for making batteries hard for users to access and replace.&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;has been lobbying against &quot;right to repair&quot; laws in several U.S. states that would require it to sell parts to independent repair shops.

Apple said an update to its iOS operating system will show the phone's battery health and recommend whether the battery needs to be replaced

Apple Inc's move on Wednesday to give iPhone owners information about the health of their batteries reverses the company's longstanding refusal to make such information available directly on iPhones and iPads, even though battery health has long been easy to check on Apple's Mac computers. Apple said an update to its iOS operating system will show the phone's battery health and recommend whether the battery needs to be replaced. It will also let users turn off a controversial piece of software that slows the phone's performance in some situations when the battery is flagging. Apple acknowledged in December that its software sometimes deliberately slows phones with weak batteries. Apple apologised and lowered the price of battery replacements in its stores from $79 to $29 for affected phones. Critics say Apple has obfuscated the fact that a worn-out battery not only fails to hold a charge, it also degrades the phone's performance. The company's lack of transparency on the issue has pushed people to buy a new phone rather than a new battery, these people say. "The battery wears out," said Kyle Wiens, chief executive of iFixit, which publishes repair guides for iPhones and sells replacement parts. "They have been pretending like the battery doesn't wear out. They've made billions of dollars on that pretence." Apple has always banned battery-health apps from the App Store for security reasons. While a few developers had found ways around the restrictions, their apps stopped showing a key piece of information - the "charge cycle count," or how many times the battery has been drained and recharged - after a 2016 software update. Rogerio Hirooka of Lirum Labs said his company's app lost charge cycle counts in 2016 but can still provide information on charge capacity, which can be used to determine whether the battery is at the end of its life. He said a routine bug-fix for the app was rejected by Apple in December, just before Apple acknowledged the battery-slowing issue. Apple rejected his app because it provides "potentially inaccurate diagnostic functionality" that could "mislead or confuse your users," according to documents from the app review process seen by Reuters. Apple explains that "there is no publicly available infrastructure to support iOS diagnostic analysis," according to the documents. Apple declined to comment on why battery diagnosis is available on the Mac but not on the iPhone, or why it rejected the update to Hirooka's app. "That fact that they tell you (battery health) on the Mac but it's a forbidden secret on the iPhone is crazy," Wiens said. All lithium-ion batteries degrade over time. Until the software update announced Wednesday becomes available - and Apple has not given a specific date - the only way to check an iPhone battery is to take the device to an Apple Store or hook the phone up to a Mac computer running special third-party software. Repair advocates have long criticized Apple and other technology companies for making batteries hard for users to access and replace. Apple has been lobbying against "right to repair" laws in several U.S. states that would require it to sell parts to independent repair shops.

Apple to let users turn off software that slows batteries

Apple may discontinue its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-big-apple-event-457#photo-25171">first-generation </a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-big-apple-event-457#photo-25171">iPhone</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-big-apple-event-457#photo-25171"> X</a> later this year.

The second generation Apple device is slated for a release this year.&nbsp;

Although <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-releases-list-of-top-searches-in-2017-hurricane-irma-iphone-x-feature-on-top-26657">iPhone X was one of the most searched items on Google the past year</a> -- according to trends data released by Google -- the device did not manage to garner the expected response from the consumers.&nbsp;

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Experts believe that selling iPhone X at a lower price is not an option that the company is willing to explore as it will end up hurting its other products in the same segment.

The device may go off-shelves from mid-2018 owing to a weakened demand.&nbsp;

The device may go off-shelves from mid-2018 owing to a weakened demand

Apple may discontinue its first-generation iPhone X later this year. The second generation Apple device is slated for a release this year. Although iPhone X was one of the most searched items on Google the past year -- according to trends data released by Google -- the device did not manage to garner the expected response from the consumers. Experts believe that selling iPhone X at a lower price is not an option that the company is willing to explore as it will end up hurting its other products in the same segment. The device may go off-shelves from mid-2018 owing to a weakened demand.

Apple may discontinue iPhone X owing to weakened demand

You may soon see stores without the iPhone X. This is because of the low sales of the highly-anticipated Apple phone.&nbsp;

Apple and KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kua has revealed that the sales were seriously dropping and are expected to reach just around 18 million units in the first quarter of 2018.&nbsp;

Several analysts had earlier predicted at least 20-30 million iPhone X sales in that time.&nbsp;

Kua further expects Apple to make sales of about 13 million in the second quarter of 2018.&nbsp;

As per analysts, one of the primary reasons for the low performance of the model is due to China&#39;s longer replacement periods as consumers choose to hold on to their phones.&nbsp;

Another major reason for the drop in sales is because of iPhone X&#39;s design of the phone, which is not yet compatible with majority of the Chinese apps, leading many customers to see it as offering less usable screen space than 5.5-inch iPhone Plus models

China&#39;s endless love for affordable Android devices is cited as yet another possible reason for iPhone X&#39;s failure to dominate the market.

The analysts&#39; expectation comes in stark contrast with the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel which showed that the iPhone X was the best-selling device in China.&nbsp;

These low sales figures may result in iPhone X actually being dropped from the market - as final sales are predicted at 62 million, rather than the 80 million earlier forecasted.&nbsp;

KGI further said that later in 2018 customers could see renewed interest in iPhones as three new models with lower price tags are going to be introduced. &quot;We believe the addition of 6.5-inch OLED and 6.1-inch LCD iPhone models will boost Apple&#39;s market share in China, and that the US$650-750 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will make it easier for users worldwide to own a 3D sensing and full-screen design iPhone which offers an innovative user experience,&quot; officials from KGI said.&nbsp;

Apple and KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kua has revealed that the sales were seriously dropping with selling just around 18 million units in the first quarter of 2018.

You may soon see stores without the iPhone X. This is because of the low sales of the highly-anticipated Apple phone. Apple and KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kua has revealed that the sales were seriously dropping and are expected to reach just around 18 million units in the first quarter of 2018. Several analysts had earlier predicted at least 20-30 million iPhone X sales in that time. Kua further expects Apple to make sales of about 13 million in the second quarter of 2018. As per analysts, one of the primary reasons for the low performance of the model is due to China's longer replacement periods as consumers choose to hold on to their phones. Another major reason for the drop in sales is because of iPhone X's design of the phone, which is not yet compatible with majority of the Chinese apps, leading many customers to see it as offering less usable screen space than 5.5-inch iPhone Plus models China's endless love for affordable Android devices is cited as yet another possible reason for iPhone X's failure to dominate the market. The analysts' expectation comes in stark contrast with the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel which showed that the iPhone X was the best-selling device in China. These low sales figures may result in iPhone X actually being dropped from the market - as final sales are predicted at 62 million, rather than the 80 million earlier forecasted. KGI further said that later in 2018 customers could see renewed interest in iPhones as three new models with lower price tags are going to be introduced. "We believe the addition of 6.5-inch OLED and 6.1-inch LCD iPhone models will boost Apple's market share in China, and that the US$650-750 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will make it easier for users worldwide to own a 3D sensing and full-screen design iPhone which offers an innovative user experience," officials from KGI said.

Hold on, iPhone X may soon be discontinued?

According to media reports, Google is the first tech-giant to have spent a huge sum of money for corporate lobbying efforts in the United States in two decades.&nbsp;

While Jeff Bezos-led Amazon spent over&nbsp;$12.8 million over lobbying US politicians the past year, rival Google invested a whopping $18 million.&nbsp;

The two companies were followed by Mark Zuckerberg&#39;s Facebook ($11.5), Bill Gates&#39; Microsoft ($8.5 million) and Tim Cook-led Apple ($7 million).

Reportedly, the companies used the money to press the US lawmakers on issues like advertising regulations, free trade, cybersecurity and immigration.&nbsp;

Facebook is reported to have upped its spending on lobbying activities by around $3 million.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Facebook is reported to have upped its spending on lobbying activities by around $3 million

According to media reports, Google is the first tech-giant to have spent a huge sum of money for corporate lobbying efforts in the United States in two decades. While Jeff Bezos-led Amazon spent over $12.8 million over lobbying US politicians the past year, rival Google invested a whopping $18 million. The two companies were followed by Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook ($11.5), Bill Gates' Microsoft ($8.5 million) and Tim Cook-led Apple ($7 million). Reportedly, the companies used the money to press the US lawmakers on issues like advertising regulations, free trade, cybersecurity and immigration. Facebook is reported to have upped its spending on lobbying activities by around $3 million.

US: Google becomes the biggest tech spender on lobbying politicians

Stronger<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-says-it-sold-fewer-iphones-but-made-record-profit-31535"> iPhone prices and hints by Apple Inc</a> on Thursday that it could return more than half of its $285 billion in cash to shareholders eased concerns among investors, even as the world`s biggest technology company gave a disappointing revenue outlook for the current quarter.

 
Apple also reported it sold fewer iPhones over the holiday quarter than Wall Street had expected.&nbsp;

 
But the revenue outlook for the first three months of 2018 &quot;was not as bad as some feared,&quot; said Jun Zhang of Rosenblatt Securities Inc. Apple&#39;s comments about plans for its $163 billion in net cash helped boost shares 3.3 percent to $173.48 in after-the-bell trading.

 
&ldquo;Over time, we are trying to target a capital structure that is approximately net neutral. We will have approximately the same level of cash and debt on the balance sheet,&rdquo; Apple`s chief financial officer, Luca Maestri, told Reuters in an interview.

 
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to take that balance down from $163 billion to zero,&quot; Maestri said, referring to Apple`s current level of cash net of debt.

 
He did not say whether the reduction in net cash would come in the form of returning capital to shareholders, capital expenditures or acquisitions.

 
The cash plans are a &quot;pleasant surprise,&quot; Brian Colello, an analyst at Morningstar Inc, said. &quot;This goes a bit against Apple&rsquo;s historically conservative capital structure.&quot;

 
Trip Miller, managing partner at Gullane Capital Partners and an Apple investor, said the move to a level balance sheet was good news. &quot;Let`s face it, this cash has been doing nothing for us over the last six years,&quot; he said.

 
Apple forecast revenue of $60 billion to $62 billion and gross margins of between 38 percent and 38.5 percent for its fiscal second quarter ending in March. Analysts were expecting $65.7 billion in sales and a gross margin of 38.9 percent for the March quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, though some had forecast sales as low as $60 billion.

 
Thrivent Financial analyst Peter Karazeris said the low revenue forecast had been expected by many analysts and investors following a string of &ldquo;credible reports&rdquo; that Apple had cut parts orders.

 
&quot;I&rsquo;m happy we&rsquo;ve gotten the bad news that I was expecting guided into the stock. It was probably a little overbaked,&quot; he said. &quot;Now we`re focusing on metrics that really matter like free-cash generation and shareholder returns.&quot; Thrivent holds Apple shares.

 
Bright spots in the fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 30 included average selling prices for the iPhone that topped Wall Street predictions, at $796 versus expectations of $756. The strong prices offset unit sales of iPhones that missed Wall Street expectations, coming in at 77.3 million units versus estimates of 80 million.

 
&ldquo;It was really driven by the success of the iPhone X and also the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus,&rdquo; Maestri told Reuters of the pricing strength. &ldquo;The new lineup has done incredibly well.&quot;

 
The company posted revenue of $88.3 billion and profit of $3.89 per share, from $78.4 billion and $3.36 per share a year earlier. The results beat analyst expectations of revenue of $87.3 billion and profits of $3.86 per share.

 
Apple`s services business, which includes Apple Music, the App Store and iCloud, grew 18 per cent to $8.4 billion, missing analyst expectations of $8.6 billion. Maestri said the lower services revenue was because the holiday quarter was only 13 weeks rather than 14 weeks.

 
The services revenue was down slightly from $8.5 billion the quarter before.

 
&quot;That`s something to watch as we roll further into 2018,&quot; said Miller of Gullane Capital. &quot;Does that continue to stagnate, or was that a one-time bump in the road?&quot; 
Maestri also said Apple`s installed base of active devices reached 1.3 billion, 30 per cent higher than two years ago and representing an expansion of potential customers for the services business.

 
Apple said it expected its tax rate for the March quarter to be 15 per cent following changes in US&nbsp;tax law. The company said last month it plans to make a one-time tax payment of $38 billion on its overseas cash and has a five-year, $30 billion US&nbsp;capital expenditure plan.&nbsp;

 
The company did not say how much of its overseas cash it would bring back to the United States in the short term and gave no new information about its capital return program, which it typically updates each April.

Apple reported it sold fewer iPhones over the holiday quarter than Wall Street had expected.

Stronger iPhone prices and hints by Apple Inc on Thursday that it could return more than half of its $285 billion in cash to shareholders eased concerns among investors, even as the world`s biggest technology company gave a disappointing revenue outlook for the current quarter. Apple also reported it sold fewer iPhones over the holiday quarter than Wall Street had expected. But the revenue outlook for the first three months of 2018 "was not as bad as some feared," said Jun Zhang of Rosenblatt Securities Inc. Apple's comments about plans for its $163 billion in net cash helped boost shares 3.3 percent to $173.48 in after-the-bell trading. “Over time, we are trying to target a capital structure that is approximately net neutral. We will have approximately the same level of cash and debt on the balance sheet,” Apple`s chief financial officer, Luca Maestri, told Reuters in an interview. “We’re going to take that balance down from $163 billion to zero," Maestri said, referring to Apple`s current level of cash net of debt. He did not say whether the reduction in net cash would come in the form of returning capital to shareholders, capital expenditures or acquisitions. The cash plans are a "pleasant surprise," Brian Colello, an analyst at Morningstar Inc, said. "This goes a bit against Apple’s historically conservative capital structure." Trip Miller, managing partner at Gullane Capital Partners and an Apple investor, said the move to a level balance sheet was good news. "Let`s face it, this cash has been doing nothing for us over the last six years," he said. Apple forecast revenue of $60 billion to $62 billion and gross margins of between 38 percent and 38.5 percent for its fiscal second quarter ending in March. Analysts were expecting $65.7 billion in sales and a gross margin of 38.9 percent for the March quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, though some had forecast sales as low as $60 billion. Thrivent Financial analyst Peter Karazeris said the low revenue forecast had been expected by many analysts and investors following a string of “credible reports” that Apple had cut parts orders. "I’m happy we’ve gotten the bad news that I was expecting guided into the stock. It was probably a little overbaked," he said. "Now we`re focusing on metrics that really matter like free-cash generation and shareholder returns." Thrivent holds Apple shares. Bright spots in the fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 30 included average selling prices for the iPhone that topped Wall Street predictions, at $796 versus expectations of $756. The strong prices offset unit sales of iPhones that missed Wall Street expectations, coming in at 77.3 million units versus estimates of 80 million. “It was really driven by the success of the iPhone X and also the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus,” Maestri told Reuters of the pricing strength. “The new lineup has done incredibly well." The company posted revenue of $88.3 billion and profit of $3.89 per share, from $78.4 billion and $3.36 per share a year earlier. The results beat analyst expectations of revenue of $87.3 billion and profits of $3.86 per share. Apple`s services business, which includes Apple Music, the App Store and iCloud, grew 18 per cent to $8.4 billion, missing analyst expectations of $8.6 billion. Maestri said the lower services revenue was because the holiday quarter was only 13 weeks rather than 14 weeks. The services revenue was down slightly from $8.5 billion the quarter before. "That`s something to watch as we roll further into 2018," said Miller of Gullane Capital. "Does that continue to stagnate, or was that a one-time bump in the road?" Maestri also said Apple`s installed base of active devices reached 1.3 billion, 30 per cent higher than two years ago and representing an expansion of potential customers for the services business. Apple said it expected its tax rate for the March quarter to be 15 per cent following changes in US tax law. The company said last month it plans to make a one-time tax payment of $38 billion on its overseas cash and has a five-year, $30 billion US capital expenditure plan. The company did not say how much of its overseas cash it would bring back to the United States in the short term and gave no new information about its capital return program, which it typically updates each April.

Apple's revenue outlook not as bad as some feared: Analysts

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