<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-firing-one-trump-on-collision-course-with-new-fbi-director-31533" target="_blank">After firing one, Trump on collision course with new FBI director</a>

FBI Director Christopher Wray was hand-picked by Donald Trump to head a law enforcement agency the US president believed was biased against him.

Now, just six months into his tenure, the 50-year-old Wray finds himself on a collision course with a president who has already fired one FBI director.

CNN reported Thursday that Wray could quit if Trump goes ahead and approves the release of a secret memo at the center of a political firestorm in Washington.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fidel-castros-eldest-son-commits-suicide-cuban-media-31534" target="_blank">Fidel Castro&#39;s eldest son commits suicide: Cuban media</a>

The son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on Thursday after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported.

&quot;Diaz-Balart, who had been attended by a group of doctors for several months due to a state of profound depression, committed suicide this morning,&quot; Cubadebate website said.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-says-it-sold-fewer-iphones-but-made-record-profit-31535" target="_blank">Apple says it sold fewer iPhones but made record profit</a>

Apple on Thursday said its earnings in the final three months of last year set new records, with sales of its flagship iPhone X topping its expectations.

The California-based technology giant reported that profit climbed to $20 billion on revenue that increased 13 percent to $88.3 billion during the period.

&quot;We&#39;re thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple&#39;s history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup,&quot; said Apple chief executive Tim Cook.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-russia-roles-in-americas-alarming-says-rex-tillerson-31537" target="_blank">China, Russia roles in Americas &#39;alarming&#39;, says Rex Tillerson</a>

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that China and Russia are assuming &quot;alarming&quot; roles in Latin America and urged regional powers to work with the United States instead.

&quot;Latin America doesn&#39;t need new imperial powers that seek only to benefit their own people,&quot; Tillerson said, in a major policy address yesterday before his first tour of South American capitals.

&quot;China&#39;s state-led model of development is reminiscent of the past. It doesn&#39;t have to be the hemisphere&#39;s future,&quot; he said, warning that &quot;unfair trading practices&quot; would cost local jobs.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-turns-down-un-security-council-visit-31539" target="_blank">Myanmar turns down UN Security Council visit</a>

Myanmar&#39;s government has told the Security Council that this month was &quot;not the right time&quot; for a visit by the top UN body to see first-hand the Rohingya refugee crisis, the council president said on Thursday.

Kuwait&#39;s Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi said Myanmar authorities were not opposed to such a visit, which could take place in March or April.

&quot;They just think that this is not the right time for a visit,&quot; Otaibi, who holds the council presidency for February, told reporters at UN headquarters.

After firing one, Trump on collision course with new FBI director FBI Director Christopher Wray was hand-picked by Donald Trump to head a law enforcement agency the US president believed was biased against him. Now, just six months into his tenure, the 50-year-old Wray finds himself on a collision course with a president who has already fired one FBI director. CNN reported Thursday that Wray could quit if Trump goes ahead and approves the release of a secret memo at the center of a political firestorm in Washington. Fidel Castro's eldest son commits suicide: Cuban media The son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on Thursday after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported. "Diaz-Balart, who had been attended by a group of doctors for several months due to a state of profound depression, committed suicide this morning," Cubadebate website said. Apple says it sold fewer iPhones but made record profit Apple on Thursday said its earnings in the final three months of last year set new records, with sales of its flagship iPhone X topping its expectations. The California-based technology giant reported that profit climbed to $20 billion on revenue that increased 13 percent to $88.3 billion during the period. "We're thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple's history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup," said Apple chief executive Tim Cook. China, Russia roles in Americas 'alarming', says Rex Tillerson Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that China and Russia are assuming "alarming" roles in Latin America and urged regional powers to work with the United States instead. "Latin America doesn't need new imperial powers that seek only to benefit their own people," Tillerson said, in a major policy address yesterday before his first tour of South American capitals. "China's state-led model of development is reminiscent of the past. It doesn't have to be the hemisphere's future," he said, warning that "unfair trading practices" would cost local jobs. Myanmar turns down UN Security Council visit Myanmar's government has told the Security Council that this month was "not the right time" for a visit by the top UN body to see first-hand the Rohingya refugee crisis, the council president said on Thursday. Kuwait's Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi said Myanmar authorities were not opposed to such a visit, which could take place in March or April. "They just think that this is not the right time for a visit," Otaibi, who holds the council presidency for February, told reporters at UN headquarters.

WION Morning News Brief, February 2, 2018

Apple on Thursday said its earnings in the final three months of last year set new records, with sales of its flagship iPhone X topping its expectations.

The California-based technology giant reported that profit climbed to $20 billion on revenue that increased 13 percent to $88.3 billion during the period.

&quot;We&#39;re thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple&#39;s history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup,&quot; said Apple chief executive Tim Cook.

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<h5>However, Apple reported that overall iPhone sales in the quarter of 77.3 million were about a million fewer than the same period a year earlier</h5>
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&quot;iPhone X surpassed our expectations and has been our top-selling iPhone every week since it shipped in November.&quot;

However, Apple reported that overall iPhone sales in the quarter of 77.3 million were about a million fewer than the same period a year earlier.&nbsp;

But iPhone revenues rose 13 percent from a year ago, suggesting its newer models were gaining traction.

The earnings -- for the first quarter of Apple&#39;s financial year -- come amid concerns over weak demand for the newest and most expensive iPhone X, the 10th anniversary edition of the iconic smartphone.

Revenue growth from iPhone sales rose in all regions, and it was the top-selling smartphone overall in mainland China, according to Cook.

&quot;It was a stellar quarter for iPhone,&quot; Cook said.

&quot;iPhone X was the most popular.&quot;

Apple also forecast revenue of between $60 billion and $62 billion in the current quarter, an outlook less rosy than analysts had expected.

Apple shares dipped and then rose more than three percent to $173.40 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures.

Spotlight off iPhone 
Despite Apple&#39;s spectacular trajectory in the decade since the introduction of the iPhone, the California technology titan is facing challenges on whether it can continue growth.

Apple&#39;s image has been bruised by revelations that it updated its mobile software to slow the performance of old iPhones as batteries weaken from age.

While the iPhone delivered the bulk of revenues, $61.6 billion in the quarter, the key segment of services saw revenue growth of 18 percent to $8.5 billion.

The &quot;other product&quot; segment which includes the Apple Watch and Apple TV, increased 36 percent to $5.5 billion.

Cook spent much of an earnings call with analysts playing up increasing revenue from Apple services, digital content, subscriptions, and products other than iPhones.

The number of Apple devices being used in the world as of January is at an all-time high of 1.3 billion, the ranks having grown 30 percent during the past two years, according to Apple.

&quot;That number speaks to the strength of the product; the loyalty of the customer, the strength of the ecosystem; it also obviously fuels the services business,&quot; Cook said.

While iPhone sales are at the heart of Apple&#39;s money-making machine, the company has taken to spotlighting revenue from the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, iTunes and other content and services people tap into using its devices.

Where&#39;s the wow? 
Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData Retail, saw &quot;worrying trends&quot; behind Apple&#39;s record-breaking quarterly earnings.

The number of iPhones sold declined, and people overall seem to be waiting longer to upgrade to new smartphones, the analyst noted. He saw the slowdown in iPhone sales as a sign that Apple isn&#39;t coming up with the kind of innovations that &quot;wow&quot; consumers.

&quot;We believe that the clear blue water that once existed between Apple and rivals is much diminished,&quot; Saunders said.

&quot;The company has time to reopen the gap, but to do so, it needs to pull something new and unique out of its hat sooner, rather than later.&quot;

Apple said its cash pile grew to $285 billion, with much of that stashed overseas.

The company said last month it would bring back most of its profits from abroad to take advantage of a favorable tax rate in legislation approved by Congress last year.

The repatriation will result in a tax bill of about $38 billion, but also would free up big chunks of money for investment.

The tech giant reported that profit climbed to $20 billion in the final three months of last year

Apple on Thursday said its earnings in the final three months of last year set new records, with sales of its flagship iPhone X topping its expectations. The California-based technology giant reported that profit climbed to $20 billion on revenue that increased 13 percent to $88.3 billion during the period. "We're thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple's history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup," said Apple chief executive Tim Cook. However, Apple reported that overall iPhone sales in the quarter of 77.3 million were about a million fewer than the same period a year earlier × "iPhone X surpassed our expectations and has been our top-selling iPhone every week since it shipped in November." However, Apple reported that overall iPhone sales in the quarter of 77.3 million were about a million fewer than the same period a year earlier. But iPhone revenues rose 13 percent from a year ago, suggesting its newer models were gaining traction. The earnings -- for the first quarter of Apple's financial year -- come amid concerns over weak demand for the newest and most expensive iPhone X, the 10th anniversary edition of the iconic smartphone. Revenue growth from iPhone sales rose in all regions, and it was the top-selling smartphone overall in mainland China, according to Cook. "It was a stellar quarter for iPhone," Cook said. "iPhone X was the most popular." Apple also forecast revenue of between $60 billion and $62 billion in the current quarter, an outlook less rosy than analysts had expected. Apple shares dipped and then rose more than three percent to $173.40 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures. Spotlight off iPhone Despite Apple's spectacular trajectory in the decade since the introduction of the iPhone, the California technology titan is facing challenges on whether it can continue growth. Apple's image has been bruised by revelations that it updated its mobile software to slow the performance of old iPhones as batteries weaken from age. While the iPhone delivered the bulk of revenues, $61.6 billion in the quarter, the key segment of services saw revenue growth of 18 percent to $8.5 billion. The "other product" segment which includes the Apple Watch and Apple TV, increased 36 percent to $5.5 billion. Cook spent much of an earnings call with analysts playing up increasing revenue from Apple services, digital content, subscriptions, and products other than iPhones. The number of Apple devices being used in the world as of January is at an all-time high of 1.3 billion, the ranks having grown 30 percent during the past two years, according to Apple. "That number speaks to the strength of the product; the loyalty of the customer, the strength of the ecosystem; it also obviously fuels the services business," Cook said. While iPhone sales are at the heart of Apple's money-making machine, the company has taken to spotlighting revenue from the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, iTunes and other content and services people tap into using its devices. Where's the wow? Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData Retail, saw "worrying trends" behind Apple's record-breaking quarterly earnings. The number of iPhones sold declined, and people overall seem to be waiting longer to upgrade to new smartphones, the analyst noted. He saw the slowdown in iPhone sales as a sign that Apple isn't coming up with the kind of innovations that "wow" consumers. "We believe that the clear blue water that once existed between Apple and rivals is much diminished," Saunders said. "The company has time to reopen the gap, but to do so, it needs to pull something new and unique out of its hat sooner, rather than later." Apple said its cash pile grew to $285 billion, with much of that stashed overseas. The company said last month it would bring back most of its profits from abroad to take advantage of a favorable tax rate in legislation approved by Congress last year. The repatriation will result in a tax bill of about $38 billion, but also would free up big chunks of money for investment.

Apple says it sold fewer iPhones but made record profit

With Apple set to report quarterly results, Thursday investors and others are cautiously watching to see whether its newest iPhone will help fuel momentum for the world&#39;s most valuable company.

Despite Apple&#39;s spectacular trajectory in the decade since the introduction of the iPhone, the California technology titan is facing challenges on whether it can continue growing.

Apple&#39;s image meanwhile has been bruised by revelations that the company updated its mobile software to slow the performance of old iPhones as batteries weaken from age.

Apple share price has eroded in recent weeks on speculation that sales of its flagship iPhone X have been far less than expected.

The company is staking much of its future on the redesigned iPhone X -- the 10th-anniversary edition of the iconic handset -- introduced last year.

Although Apple does not normally break down sales by individual models, some analysts have expressed concern that the newest and most expensive iPhone is a laggard, while others say Apple has delivered on its promise with a fuller range of handsets.

Kantar Worldpanel ComTech data released on Tuesday indicated that Apple&#39;s flagship iPhone X in December was among the top three best-selling devices across Europe, Australia, Japan, &quot;urban China,&quot; and the US.

&quot;The full results for the last quarter of the year show that Apple&#39;s decision to release three new handsets over a staggered period, including the ultra high-end iPhone X, has been a sound one,&quot; said KWC global director Dominic Sunnebo.

&quot;Given that in December iPhone X made it into the top three best-selling devices across all key regions, particularly in urban China where it was the top-selling model, the pricing strategy seems to have been vindicated.&quot;

Some analysts say Apple needs to think beyond the smartphone if it is looking to secure its future.

&quot;We&#39;re rapidly approaching the era of smartphone market maturation, and quite possibly, the end of smartphone market growth,&quot; said chief analyst Bob O`Donnell of Technalysis Research.

And, while smartphones remain popular, voice-commanded machines, wearable computing, augmented-reality glasses and other innovations could make handsets seem like &#39;old technology&#39; in the not too distant future, the analyst reasoned.

&quot;Challenges for the iPhone X and other high-end smartphones go well beyond just the appearance (or not) of a replacement &#39;super cycle,&#39;&quot; O`Donnell said in a blog post.

Smartphone upgrade rates are at record low levels and do not appear poised to rebound in the current quarter, according to BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk.

&quot;The sustained lengthening of the replacement cycle appears driven simply by customer choice to hold onto their phone longer,&quot; Piecyk said in a note.

Apple is in a unique position following a major tax overhaul which has prompted the company to reveal plans to bring back most of its $269 billion in profits held overseas, providing funds to pay dividends, buy back shares, invest in research, or make acquisitions.

Rumors being floated included the notion that Apple might want to buy streaming television giant Netflix to beef content in its services business.

Netflix&#39;s value based on its share price is more than $88 billion, an amount of cash Apple could afford given its overseas cash, according to Swarup Gupta of Zacks Investment Research.

&quot;Such a buyout would also add to Apple`s services muscle,&quot; Gupta said. 
While there appear to be threats to Apple share price this year, there also appear to be an array of opportunities, according to Gupta.

Apple has touted the growth of its services business, revenue from which rose 34 percent last year to almost $8.5 billion, according to Zacks.

Apple could also start making money from sales of voice-commanded HomePod speakers infused with Siri virtual assistant software.

HomePod will make a belated debut this year, taking on Amazon Echo and Google Home devices.

Gupta noted that the controversy over slowing of older iPhones &quot;has dented the reputation&quot; of the brand.

&quot;But given the nature of Apple&#39;s fan following, it could easily be forgotten in the months to come unless another major slip up happens on the company`s part,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;

Apple share price has eroded in recent weeks on speculation that sales of its flagship iPhone X have been far less than expected

With Apple set to report quarterly results, Thursday investors and others are cautiously watching to see whether its newest iPhone will help fuel momentum for the world's most valuable company. Despite Apple's spectacular trajectory in the decade since the introduction of the iPhone, the California technology titan is facing challenges on whether it can continue growing. Apple's image meanwhile has been bruised by revelations that the company updated its mobile software to slow the performance of old iPhones as batteries weaken from age. Apple share price has eroded in recent weeks on speculation that sales of its flagship iPhone X have been far less than expected. The company is staking much of its future on the redesigned iPhone X -- the 10th-anniversary edition of the iconic handset -- introduced last year. Although Apple does not normally break down sales by individual models, some analysts have expressed concern that the newest and most expensive iPhone is a laggard, while others say Apple has delivered on its promise with a fuller range of handsets. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech data released on Tuesday indicated that Apple's flagship iPhone X in December was among the top three best-selling devices across Europe, Australia, Japan, "urban China," and the US. "The full results for the last quarter of the year show that Apple's decision to release three new handsets over a staggered period, including the ultra high-end iPhone X, has been a sound one," said KWC global director Dominic Sunnebo. "Given that in December iPhone X made it into the top three best-selling devices across all key regions, particularly in urban China where it was the top-selling model, the pricing strategy seems to have been vindicated." Some analysts say Apple needs to think beyond the smartphone if it is looking to secure its future. "We're rapidly approaching the era of smartphone market maturation, and quite possibly, the end of smartphone market growth," said chief analyst Bob O`Donnell of Technalysis Research. And, while smartphones remain popular, voice-commanded machines, wearable computing, augmented-reality glasses and other innovations could make handsets seem like 'old technology' in the not too distant future, the analyst reasoned. "Challenges for the iPhone X and other high-end smartphones go well beyond just the appearance (or not) of a replacement 'super cycle,'" O`Donnell said in a blog post. Smartphone upgrade rates are at record low levels and do not appear poised to rebound in the current quarter, according to BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk. "The sustained lengthening of the replacement cycle appears driven simply by customer choice to hold onto their phone longer," Piecyk said in a note. Apple is in a unique position following a major tax overhaul which has prompted the company to reveal plans to bring back most of its $269 billion in profits held overseas, providing funds to pay dividends, buy back shares, invest in research, or make acquisitions. Rumors being floated included the notion that Apple might want to buy streaming television giant Netflix to beef content in its services business. Netflix's value based on its share price is more than $88 billion, an amount of cash Apple could afford given its overseas cash, according to Swarup Gupta of Zacks Investment Research. "Such a buyout would also add to Apple`s services muscle," Gupta said. While there appear to be threats to Apple share price this year, there also appear to be an array of opportunities, according to Gupta. Apple has touted the growth of its services business, revenue from which rose 34 percent last year to almost $8.5 billion, according to Zacks. Apple could also start making money from sales of voice-commanded HomePod speakers infused with Siri virtual assistant software. HomePod will make a belated debut this year, taking on Amazon Echo and Google Home devices. Gupta noted that the controversy over slowing of older iPhones "has dented the reputation" of the brand. "But given the nature of Apple's fan following, it could easily be forgotten in the months to come unless another major slip up happens on the company`s part," he said.

Apple challenged to show iPhone star shines

Benchmarks buckled under heavy selling pressure today as wary investors pocketed gains in recent winners ahead of the Union Budget amid lacklustre global leads.

The BSE Sensex sank about 250 points to end at 36,033.73, while the broader NSE Nifty dropped 80 points to 11,049.65.

Brokers said investors took money off the table and held back fresh bets ahead of the Union Budget on February 1.

Market sentiment was also impacted as other Asian markets retreated from record highs, tracking overnight meltdown at the Wall Street after a sell-off in Apple shares.

Investors were also cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve&#39;s two-day monetary policy meeting beginning today.

The 30-share Sensex, after opening a shade lower at 36,277.12, continued its slide to crack the 36,000-mark and hit a low of 35,993.41 during the day. It finally settled at 36,033.73, down 249.52 points, or 0.69 per cent.

The index had gained 232.81 points yesterday and closed at a record high of 36,283.25.

The Nifty too closed lower by 80.75 points, or 0.73 per cent, at 11,049.65 after hitting a low of 11,033.90.

It had ended at a lifetime high of 11,130.40 yesterday.

&quot;Market slid followed by weaknesses in global markets while investors are likely to utilise the correction as improving domestic macros coupled with earnings growth will benefit in the long run.

&quot;The upcoming US Fed policy and India budget will remain the near term catalyst,&quot; said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 291.86 crore on net basis while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also picked up equities to the tune of Rs 90.08 crore yesterday, provisional data showed.

Asian Paints was the worst performer among the Sensex components by falling 2.22 per cent, followed by Kotak Mahindra Bank at 2.20 per cent.

Other laggards were Axis Bank, Dr Reddy&#39;s, Adani Ports, Reliance Industries, Wipro, ICICI Bank, TCS, Yes Bank, HDFC Ltd, Infosys, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, ONGC, Bajaj Auto, Bharti Airtel, ITC and HDFC Bank.

Bucking the trend, Coal India, Hero MotoCorp, Sun Pharma, SBI, IndusInd Bank, HUL and Power Grid finished with gains of up to 1.71 per cent.

Reliance Communications soared 10.46 per cent after the company reported narrowing of consolidated loss to Rs 130 crore for the quarter ended December 2017.

Sector-wise, the BSE consumer durables index was the weakest of the lost, dropping 1.74 per cent, followed by IT 1.07 per cent, teck 1.02 per cent, bankex 0.85 per cent, realty 0.80 per cent, metal 0.63 per cent, healthcare 0.61 per cent, infrastructure 0.56 per cent, auto 0.48 per cent, capital goods 0.36 per cent and FMCG 0.33 per cent.

Oil &amp; gas and PSU indices managed to close in the green.

The broader markets continued to face selling pressure, which pulled down the small-cap index by 1.34 per cent and mid-cap by 0.67 per cent.

Overseas, European stocks were trading lower following sharp losses in Asian bourses and on Wall Street. Key indices like Frankfurt&#39;s DAX was down by 0.35 per cent, while Paris CAC 40 shed 0.19 per cent in their late morning deals. London&#39;s FTSE fell 0.42 per cent.

In Asia, Japan&#39;s Nikkei fell 1.43 per cent and Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng slipped 1.09 per cent, while Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.99 per cent.

The BSE Sensex sank about 250 points to end at 36,033.73, while the broader NSE Nifty dropped 80 points to 11,049.65

Benchmarks buckled under heavy selling pressure today as wary investors pocketed gains in recent winners ahead of the Union Budget amid lacklustre global leads. The BSE Sensex sank about 250 points to end at 36,033.73, while the broader NSE Nifty dropped 80 points to 11,049.65. Brokers said investors took money off the table and held back fresh bets ahead of the Union Budget on February 1. Market sentiment was also impacted as other Asian markets retreated from record highs, tracking overnight meltdown at the Wall Street after a sell-off in Apple shares. Investors were also cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting beginning today. The 30-share Sensex, after opening a shade lower at 36,277.12, continued its slide to crack the 36,000-mark and hit a low of 35,993.41 during the day. It finally settled at 36,033.73, down 249.52 points, or 0.69 per cent. The index had gained 232.81 points yesterday and closed at a record high of 36,283.25. The Nifty too closed lower by 80.75 points, or 0.73 per cent, at 11,049.65 after hitting a low of 11,033.90. It had ended at a lifetime high of 11,130.40 yesterday. "Market slid followed by weaknesses in global markets while investors are likely to utilise the correction as improving domestic macros coupled with earnings growth will benefit in the long run. "The upcoming US Fed policy and India budget will remain the near term catalyst," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 291.86 crore on net basis while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also picked up equities to the tune of Rs 90.08 crore yesterday, provisional data showed. Asian Paints was the worst performer among the Sensex components by falling 2.22 per cent, followed by Kotak Mahindra Bank at 2.20 per cent. Other laggards were Axis Bank, Dr Reddy's, Adani Ports, Reliance Industries, Wipro, ICICI Bank, TCS, Yes Bank, HDFC Ltd, Infosys, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, NTPC, ONGC, Bajaj Auto, Bharti Airtel, ITC and HDFC Bank. Bucking the trend, Coal India, Hero MotoCorp, Sun Pharma, SBI, IndusInd Bank, HUL and Power Grid finished with gains of up to 1.71 per cent. Reliance Communications soared 10.46 per cent after the company reported narrowing of consolidated loss to Rs 130 crore for the quarter ended December 2017. Sector-wise, the BSE consumer durables index was the weakest of the lost, dropping 1.74 per cent, followed by IT 1.07 per cent, teck 1.02 per cent, bankex 0.85 per cent, realty 0.80 per cent, metal 0.63 per cent, healthcare 0.61 per cent, infrastructure 0.56 per cent, auto 0.48 per cent, capital goods 0.36 per cent and FMCG 0.33 per cent. Oil & gas and PSU indices managed to close in the green. The broader markets continued to face selling pressure, which pulled down the small-cap index by 1.34 per cent and mid-cap by 0.67 per cent. Overseas, European stocks were trading lower following sharp losses in Asian bourses and on Wall Street. Key indices like Frankfurt's DAX was down by 0.35 per cent, while Paris CAC 40 shed 0.19 per cent in their late morning deals. London's FTSE fell 0.42 per cent. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei fell 1.43 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 1.09 per cent, while Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.99 per cent.

Sensex, Nifty tumble from record highs ahead of Budget

Italy&#39;s antitrust authority today said it had launched a probe into tech giants Apple and Samsung for allegedly shortening the lives of their products so clients would buy newer models.

The watchdog accused the companies of a &quot;commercial policy aimed at exploiting the shortcomings of some (tech) components to reduce the performance of their products over time and persuade consumers to purchase new versions&quot;.

It said it was also looking into complaints the pair failed to provide information on what consequences software updates pushed by the companies would have on products.

The Italian probe follows an investigation launched this month into Apple in France over suspected &quot;planned obsolescence&quot; in some of its iPhone models.

The US company was forced to admit in December that it intentionally slowed down older models of its iPhones over time, sparking concerns it was unfairly nudging consumers to upgrade.

At the time, Apple denied it intentionally shortened the life on any of its products. It said it slowed models to extend the performance of the phone, which uses less power when running at slower speeds, and prevent unexpected shutdowns.

The California-based group also faces a class-action suit in the United States.

It has been a bad start to the year for Samsung too: the electronics giant faces a legal case in France over the alleged use of child labour and other abuses in Chinese manufacturing plants producing its products.

The watchdog accused the companies of a 'commercial policy aimed at exploiting the shortcomings of some (tech) components to reduce the performance of their products over time and persuade consumers to purchase new versions'

Italy's antitrust authority today said it had launched a probe into tech giants Apple and Samsung for allegedly shortening the lives of their products so clients would buy newer models. The watchdog accused the companies of a "commercial policy aimed at exploiting the shortcomings of some (tech) components to reduce the performance of their products over time and persuade consumers to purchase new versions". It said it was also looking into complaints the pair failed to provide information on what consequences software updates pushed by the companies would have on products. The Italian probe follows an investigation launched this month into Apple in France over suspected "planned obsolescence" in some of its iPhone models. The US company was forced to admit in December that it intentionally slowed down older models of its iPhones over time, sparking concerns it was unfairly nudging consumers to upgrade. At the time, Apple denied it intentionally shortened the life on any of its products. It said it slowed models to extend the performance of the phone, which uses less power when running at slower speeds, and prevent unexpected shutdowns. The California-based group also faces a class-action suit in the United States. It has been a bad start to the year for Samsung too: the electronics giant faces a legal case in France over the alleged use of child labour and other abuses in Chinese manufacturing plants producing its products.

Italy probes Apple, Samsung over cuts to product life

The chairman of a US Senate committee overseeing business issues asked Apple to answer questions about its disclosure that it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The California-based company apologised over the issue on December 28, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good.

Senator John Thune, a Republican who chairs the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said in a January 9 letter to Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook that &quot;the large volume of consumer criticism leveled against the company in light of its admission suggests that there should have been better transparency.&quot;

Apple said it will cut the price of a replacement for an out-of-warranty battery to $29 from $79 for an iPhone 6 or later. The company also will update its iOS operating system so users can see whether the battery is in poor condition and affecting the phone&#39;s performance.

Thune asked if Apple considered making free battery replacements available or if it explored offering rebates for customers who paid full price for replacement batteries.

He also wants to know if Apple notified consumers of the throttling feature in software updates, which slows the phone, and if customers had the option of declining the update. The letter also asked if the similar software was used in earlier iPhone models.

Thune wants Apple&#39;s answers by January 23

An Apple spokesman did not respond to a request for comment early Wednesday.

Apple addressed the concerns about the quality and durability of its products at a time when it is charging $999 for its newest flagship model, the iPhone X.

&quot;We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down,&quot;it said last month. &quot;We apologize.&quot;

Apple acknowledged earlier in December that iPhone software can slow down some phones with battery problems. Apple said the problem was that aging lithium batteries delivered power unevenly, which could cause iPhones to shut down unexpectedly to protect the delicate circuits inside.

That disclosure played on a common belief among consumers that Apple purposely slows down older phones to encourage customers to buy newer iPhone models. While no credible evidence has emerged that Apple engaged in such conduct, the better disclosure struck a nerve on social media and elsewhere.

Lawsuits have been filed in California, New York and Illinois alleging the company defrauded users by slowing down devices without warning.

The company also faces a legal complaint in France, where so-called &quot;planned obsolesce&quot; is against the law.

The California-based company apologised over the issue on December 28, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good

The chairman of a US Senate committee overseeing business issues asked Apple to answer questions about its disclosure that it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The California-based company apologised over the issue on December 28, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good. Senator John Thune, a Republican who chairs the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said in a January 9 letter to Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook that "the large volume of consumer criticism leveled against the company in light of its admission suggests that there should have been better transparency." Apple said it will cut the price of a replacement for an out-of-warranty battery to $29 from $79 for an iPhone 6 or later. The company also will update its iOS operating system so users can see whether the battery is in poor condition and affecting the phone's performance. Thune asked if Apple considered making free battery replacements available or if it explored offering rebates for customers who paid full price for replacement batteries. He also wants to know if Apple notified consumers of the throttling feature in software updates, which slows the phone, and if customers had the option of declining the update. The letter also asked if the similar software was used in earlier iPhone models. Thune wants Apple's answers by January 23 An Apple spokesman did not respond to a request for comment early Wednesday. Apple addressed the concerns about the quality and durability of its products at a time when it is charging $999 for its newest flagship model, the iPhone X. "We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down,"it said last month. "We apologize." Apple acknowledged earlier in December that iPhone software can slow down some phones with battery problems. Apple said the problem was that aging lithium batteries delivered power unevenly, which could cause iPhones to shut down unexpectedly to protect the delicate circuits inside. That disclosure played on a common belief among consumers that Apple purposely slows down older phones to encourage customers to buy newer iPhone models. While no credible evidence has emerged that Apple engaged in such conduct, the better disclosure struck a nerve on social media and elsewhere. Lawsuits have been filed in California, New York and Illinois alleging the company defrauded users by slowing down devices without warning. The company also faces a legal complaint in France, where so-called "planned obsolesce" is against the law.

US senator wants Apple to answer questions on slowing iPhones

Apple Inc shareholders Jana Partners and the California State Teachers&#39;&nbsp;Retirement System are urging the smartphone maker to take steps to address what they say is a growing problem of young people getting addicted to Apple&#39;s iPhones, Jana partner Charles Penner said.

Jana, a leading activist shareholder, and CalSTRS, one of the nation&#39;s largest public pension plans, delivered a letter to Apple on Saturday asking the company to consider developing software that would allow parents to limit children&#39;s phone use, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday.

Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health, according to the publication.&nbsp;

CalSTRS and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jana and CalSTRS together control about $2 billion worth of Apple shares, the Journal reports.

The social rights issue is a new turn for Jana, which is known for pushing companies it invests in to make financial changes.&nbsp;

However, the issue of phone addiction among young people has become a growing concern in the United States as parents report their children cannot give up their phones. CalSTRS and Jana worry that Apple`s reputation and stock could be hurt if it does not address those concerns, according to the Journal.&nbsp;

Half of the teenagers in the United States feel like they are addicted to their mobile phones and report feeling pressure to immediately respond to phone messages, according to a 2016 survey of children and their parents by Common Sense Media.

The phone addiction issue got a high-profile boost from the former Disney child star Selena Gomez, 24, who said she cancelled a 2016 world tour to go to therapy for depression and low self-esteem, feelings she linked to her addiction to social media and the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram.

Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health, according to the publication

Apple Inc shareholders Jana Partners and the California State Teachers' Retirement System are urging the smartphone maker to take steps to address what they say is a growing problem of young people getting addicted to Apple's iPhones, Jana partner Charles Penner said. Jana, a leading activist shareholder, and CalSTRS, one of the nation's largest public pension plans, delivered a letter to Apple on Saturday asking the company to consider developing software that would allow parents to limit children's phone use, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday. Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health, according to the publication. CalSTRS and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jana and CalSTRS together control about $2 billion worth of Apple shares, the Journal reports. The social rights issue is a new turn for Jana, which is known for pushing companies it invests in to make financial changes. However, the issue of phone addiction among young people has become a growing concern in the United States as parents report their children cannot give up their phones. CalSTRS and Jana worry that Apple`s reputation and stock could be hurt if it does not address those concerns, according to the Journal. Half of the teenagers in the United States feel like they are addicted to their mobile phones and report feeling pressure to immediately respond to phone messages, according to a 2016 survey of children and their parents by Common Sense Media. The phone addiction issue got a high-profile boost from the former Disney child star Selena Gomez, 24, who said she cancelled a 2016 world tour to go to therapy for depression and low self-esteem, feelings she linked to her addiction to social media and the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram.

Apple should address youth phone addiction, say two large investors

Remember Lisa? Apple&#39;s personal computer device came way before the much-loved Macbook of the 21st century.&nbsp;

According to reports, California&#39;s Computer History Museum has managed to recover the source code which will facilitate the release of Lisa operating system (OS).

The source code for the OS as well as the applications now rests with Apple for review.&nbsp;

Lisa OS will be made available for free this year once Apple clears it for a release.&nbsp;

Lisa was released in the year 1983 and managed to sell close to ten thousand units.&nbsp;

Lisa&#39;s apparent failure is often believed to be the reason behind Steve&#39;s Job&#39;s shift from the company after which he founded NeXT Computer.

The company was eventually overtaken by Apple.&nbsp;

Lisa OS will be made available for free this year once Apple clears it for a release.

Remember Lisa? Apple's personal computer device came way before the much-loved Macbook of the 21st century. According to reports, California's Computer History Museum has managed to recover the source code which will facilitate the release of Lisa operating system (OS). The source code for the OS as well as the applications now rests with Apple for review. Lisa OS will be made available for free this year once Apple clears it for a release. Lisa was released in the year 1983 and managed to sell close to ten thousand units. Lisa's apparent failure is often believed to be the reason behind Steve's Job's shift from the company after which he founded NeXT Computer. The company was eventually overtaken by Apple.

Apple likely to release Lisa OS for free this year

Intel Corp shares fell nearly 2 percent on Thursday as investors worried about the potential financial liability and reputational hit from recently disclosed security flaws in its widely used microprocessors.

The largest chipmaker had confirmed on Wednesday that flaws reported by researchers could allow hackers to steal sensitive information from computers, phones and other devices.

Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp and other software makers have issued patches to protect against the vulnerabilities.

Intel may be on the hook for costs stemming from lawsuits claiming that the patches would slow computers and effectively force consumers to buy new hardware, and big customers will likely seek compensation from Intel for any software or hardware fixes they make, security experts said.

&quot;The potential liability is big for Intel,&rdquo; said Eric Johnson, dean of Vanderbilt University&rsquo;s Owen Graduate School of Management. &quot;Everybody will be scrambling over the next few days to figure out just how big it is.&quot;

Intel has said that the patches for the bugs would slow its chips down somewhat but that most users will not notice.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest seller of cloud computing services, said in a statement it does not &quot;expect meaningful performance impact for most customer workloads.&quot;

Microsoft and Alphabet Inc&rsquo;s Google both said in statements on their websites that they expect few performance problems for most of their cloud computing customers.

But the incident is likely to spur cloud companies to press Intel for lower prices on chips in future talks, said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh, which owns shares in Intel.

&quot;What (Intel&rsquo;s cloud customers) are going to say is, &lsquo;You wronged us, we hate you, but if we can get a discount, we&rsquo;ll still buy from you,&quot; Forrest said.

Forrest also expects Intel will have to increase its chip development spending to focus on security.

<figure>
Government agencies and security experts said they knew of no cyber attacks that had exploited the vulnerabilities.

Financial services firms were studying information on the vulnerabilities to determine how to best respond, said the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a global industry group known as FS-ISAC that shares data on cyber threats.

Banks and other firms are trying to understand what it will cost to respond to the issue, FS-ISAC said in an emailed statement.

&quot;In addition to the security considerations raised by this design flaw, performance degradation is expected, which could require more processing power for affected systems to compensate and maintain current baseline performance,&quot; FS-ISAC said.

&quot;There will need to be consideration and balance between fixing the potential security threat vs the performance and another possible impact on systems.&quot;

Lawyers filed a lawsuit in San Jose, California, federal court on Wednesday that sought class-action status and compensation for people who had bought vulnerable Intel chips or computers that came with them already installed.

Intel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday about the lawsuit.

While more lawsuits are expected, Intel&rsquo;s biggest customers are likely to quietly seek compensation for any harm caused by the vulnerabilities, including costs to patch machines or replace microprocessors, Johnson said.

Legal experts said that consumers would have to prove concrete damages and harm to proceed with claims.

Intel shares fell 1.8 percent, following a 3.4 percent decline Wednesday.

Shares in rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc climbed 4.9 percent as investors speculated the No. 2 maker of microprocessors would woo customers away from Intel.

Still, researchers had said some of AMD&rsquo;s chips had one of the two vulnerabilities disclosed on Wednesday, as do processors from ARM Holdings.
</figure>

The largest chipmaker had confirmed on Wednesday that flaws reported by researchers could allow hackers to steal sensitive information from computers, phones and other devices

Intel Corp shares fell nearly 2 percent on Thursday as investors worried about the potential financial liability and reputational hit from recently disclosed security flaws in its widely used microprocessors. The largest chipmaker had confirmed on Wednesday that flaws reported by researchers could allow hackers to steal sensitive information from computers, phones and other devices. Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp and other software makers have issued patches to protect against the vulnerabilities. Intel may be on the hook for costs stemming from lawsuits claiming that the patches would slow computers and effectively force consumers to buy new hardware, and big customers will likely seek compensation from Intel for any software or hardware fixes they make, security experts said. "The potential liability is big for Intel,” said Eric Johnson, dean of Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. "Everybody will be scrambling over the next few days to figure out just how big it is." Intel has said that the patches for the bugs would slow its chips down somewhat but that most users will not notice. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest seller of cloud computing services, said in a statement it does not "expect meaningful performance impact for most customer workloads." Microsoft and Alphabet Inc’s Google both said in statements on their websites that they expect few performance problems for most of their cloud computing customers. But the incident is likely to spur cloud companies to press Intel for lower prices on chips in future talks, said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh, which owns shares in Intel. "What (Intel’s cloud customers) are going to say is, ‘You wronged us, we hate you, but if we can get a discount, we’ll still buy from you," Forrest said. Forrest also expects Intel will have to increase its chip development spending to focus on security. Government agencies and security experts said they knew of no cyber attacks that had exploited the vulnerabilities. Financial services firms were studying information on the vulnerabilities to determine how to best respond, said the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a global industry group known as FS-ISAC that shares data on cyber threats. Banks and other firms are trying to understand what it will cost to respond to the issue, FS-ISAC said in an emailed statement. "In addition to the security considerations raised by this design flaw, performance degradation is expected, which could require more processing power for affected systems to compensate and maintain current baseline performance," FS-ISAC said. "There will need to be consideration and balance between fixing the potential security threat vs the performance and another possible impact on systems." Lawyers filed a lawsuit in San Jose, California, federal court on Wednesday that sought class-action status and compensation for people who had bought vulnerable Intel chips or computers that came with them already installed. Intel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday about the lawsuit. While more lawsuits are expected, Intel’s biggest customers are likely to quietly seek compensation for any harm caused by the vulnerabilities, including costs to patch machines or replace microprocessors, Johnson said. Legal experts said that consumers would have to prove concrete damages and harm to proceed with claims. Intel shares fell 1.8 percent, following a 3.4 percent decline Wednesday. Shares in rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc climbed 4.9 percent as investors speculated the No. 2 maker of microprocessors would woo customers away from Intel. Still, researchers had said some of AMD’s chips had one of the two vulnerabilities disclosed on Wednesday, as do processors from ARM Holdings.

Intel shares fall as investors worry about costs of chip flaw

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-targets-book-threatens-ex-ally-bannon-with-legal-action-28582" target="_blank">Explosive book on Trump&#39;s White House to be released early after Trump&#39;s lawyers try to block it</a>

President Donald Trump&#39;s lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over &quot;defamatory&quot; comments in the book. &quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-kabul-suicide-attack-28581" target="_blank">Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul suicide attack</a>

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Thursday in Afghanistan&#39;s capital Kabul, the militant group&rsquo;s Amaq news agency said. Officials in the capital said the attacker blew himself up close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan-28587" target="_blank">Watch: </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan-28587" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan-28587" target="_blank"> suspends security assistance to Pakistan</a>

The United States has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, revealed State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. &quot;Until the Pakistan government takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting US personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan,&quot; &nbsp;said Heather Nauert.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-failed-north-korean-missile-launch-crashed-into-its-own-city-last-year-reports-28586" target="_blank">A failed North Korean missile launch crashed into its own city last year: Reports</a>

North Korea reportedly tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called Hwasong-12 in April last year, which came crashing down in a North Korean city. The failed launch of Hwasong-12 crashed in Tokchon just a few seconds after being in the air, media reports said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-to-issue-fix-for-iphones-macs-at-risk-from-spectre-chip-flaw-28585" target="_blank">Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from &#39;Spectre&#39; chip flaw</a>

Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc&#39;s &nbsp;Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel&#39;s stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker.

Explosive book on Trump's White House to be released early after Trump's lawyers try to block it President Donald Trump's lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over "defamatory" comments in the book. "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job. Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul suicide attack Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Thursday in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, the militant group’s Amaq news agency said. Officials in the capital said the attacker blew himself up close to a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against illegal drugs and alcohol dealing. Watch: US suspends security assistance to Pakistan The United States has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, revealed State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. "Until the Pakistan government takes decisive action against groups including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and also targeting US personnel, US will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan," said Heather Nauert. A failed North Korean missile launch crashed into its own city last year: Reports North Korea reportedly tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called Hwasong-12 in April last year, which came crashing down in a North Korean city. The failed launch of Hwasong-12 crashed in Tokchon just a few seconds after being in the air, media reports said. Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from 'Spectre' chip flaw Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc's Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel's stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker.

WION Morning News Brief, January 5, 2018

Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers.

On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc&#39;s &nbsp;Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp&nbsp;chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel&#39;s stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker.

In a statement on its website, Apple said all Mac and iOS devices are affected by both Meltdown and Spectre. But the most recent operating system updates for Mac computers, Apple TVs, iPhones and iPads protect users against the Meltdown attack and do not slow down the devices, it added, and Meltdown does not affect the Apple Watch.

Macs and iOS devices are vulnerable to Spectre attacks through code that can run in web browsers. Apple said it would issue a patch to its Safari web browser for those devices &quot;in the coming days.&quot;

In a statement on its website, Apple said all Mac and iOS devices are affected by both Meltdown and Spectre.

Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc's Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel's stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker. In a statement on its website, Apple said all Mac and iOS devices are affected by both Meltdown and Spectre. But the most recent operating system updates for Mac computers, Apple TVs, iPhones and iPads protect users against the Meltdown attack and do not slow down the devices, it added, and Meltdown does not affect the Apple Watch. Macs and iOS devices are vulnerable to Spectre attacks through code that can run in web browsers. Apple said it would issue a patch to its Safari web browser for those devices "in the coming days."

Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from 'Spectre' chip flaw

Citi analysts&nbsp;Jim Suva and Asiya Merchant&nbsp;have anticipated a 40 per cent chance of Apple acquiring Netflix.

Several media reports citing the analysts have said that Apple may acquire the popular entertainment company Netflix.

The prediction has come after the clearing of US President&#39;s&nbsp;new corporate tax.

The recent change to the tax system will allow Apple to bring back huge funds in the country that was stocked outside due to the previous&nbsp;taxation system.

Reports say that about 90 per cent of the Apple&#39;s cash is sitting overseas.&nbsp;

Trump&#39;s Corporate Tax cut will repatriate over $200 billion cash to Apple, which it can utilise to buy the leading entertainment company.&nbsp;

Analysts have said that the tech giant had been avoiding repatriating cash to the US under the previous tax system to avoid high taxation.&nbsp;

Apple had been trying to offer compelling TV shows and movies, however, with the popularity of services such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, the tech giant was struggling to offer such services.&nbsp;Though iTunes had been a huge hit for the company.

Netflix, one of the leading video streaming services,&nbsp;has&nbsp;emerged as a major player in the TV game.

The company diverts billions of dollars on original series. The streaming service has designed some of the most popular shows like House of Cards, Black Mirror, 13 reasons why, Better call Saul and many more.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Citi analysts?Jim Suva and Asiya Merchant?have anticipated a 40 per cent chance of Apple acquiring Netflix

Citi analysts Jim Suva and Asiya Merchant have anticipated a 40 per cent chance of Apple acquiring Netflix. Several media reports citing the analysts have said that Apple may acquire the popular entertainment company Netflix. The prediction has come after the clearing of US President's new corporate tax. The recent change to the tax system will allow Apple to bring back huge funds in the country that was stocked outside due to the previous taxation system. Reports say that about 90 per cent of the Apple's cash is sitting overseas. Trump's Corporate Tax cut will repatriate over $200 billion cash to Apple, which it can utilise to buy the leading entertainment company. Analysts have said that the tech giant had been avoiding repatriating cash to the US under the previous tax system to avoid high taxation. Apple had been trying to offer compelling TV shows and movies, however, with the popularity of services such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, the tech giant was struggling to offer such services. Though iTunes had been a huge hit for the company. Netflix, one of the leading video streaming services, has emerged as a major player in the TV game. The company diverts billions of dollars on original series. The streaming service has designed some of the most popular shows like House of Cards, Black Mirror, 13 reasons why, Better call Saul and many more.

Apple may acquire Netflix: Reports

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

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

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

Apple apologises for slowing iPhones, offers discounted batteries

Apple and Amazon are in licensing discussions with Riyadh on investing in Saudi Arabia, two sources told Reuters, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&#39;s push to give the conservative kingdom a high-tech look.

A third source confirmed that Apple was in talks with SAGIA, Saudi Arabia&#39;s foreign investment authority.

Both companies already sell products in Saudi Arabia via third parties but they and other global tech giants have yet to establish a direct presence.

Amazon&#39;s discussions are being led by cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS), which would introduce stiff competition in a market currently dominated by smaller local providers like STC and Mobily.

Riyadh has been easing regulatory impediments for the past two years, including limits on foreign ownership which had long kept investors away, since falling crude prices highlighted the need to diversify its oil-dependent economy.

Luring Apple and Amazon would further Prince Mohammed&#39;s reform plans and raise the companies&#39; profile in a young and relatively affluent market, which already boasts some of the highest internet and smartphone use in the world.

About 70 percent of the Saudi population is under 30 and frequently glued to social media.

A licensing agreement for Apple stores with SAGIA is expected by February, with an initial retail store targeted for 2019, said two sources familiar with the discussions.

Amazon&#39;s talks are in earlier stages and no specific date has been set for investment plans, they said.

Apple already holds second place in the Saudi mobile phone market behind Samsung, according to market researcher Euromonitor.

Amazon acquired Dubai-based online retailer Souq.com earlier in 2017, opening access for Amazon retail goods to be sold in the kingdom.

Both companies declined to comment, while SAGIA was not immediately available to answer questions about the discussions.

Lengthy courtship&nbsp;

While Saudi reform plans call for luring foreign investment broadly across sectors, officials have courted Silicon Valley players especially strongly over the past two years to complement their high-tech ambitions.

Prince Mohammed is an avowed technophile and has styled himself a disrupter in the model of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.

During an official visit to the United States last year he met executives at Facebook, Microsoft and Uber, in which the sovereign wealth fund he chairs later took a $3.5 billion stake.

Since then, he has also set up a $45 billion technology investment fund with Japan&#39;s SoftBank and announced plans to create a futuristic $500 billion mega-city with more robots than humans.

Apple and Amazon have both been on a Saudi priority list of foreign firms which officials hope to attract to further their reforms, one of the sources said.

&quot;Many tech multinationals now in Saudi Arabia are either vendors to the Saudi government or, in the case of Uber, have benefited from a sizable Saudi investment,&quot; said Sam Blatteis, who heads Dubai-based tech advisory MENA Catalysts Inc.

&quot;Amazon entering the Saudi market would be a step-change.&quot;

For Amazon, the move underscores how AWS is looking to take an early lead in selling data storage and computing services to customers in the Middle East.

AWS, the world&#39;s biggest cloud business by revenue, has embarked on a slower global expansion than No.2 Microsoft, which now offers cloud services in twice as many regions.

However, Microsoft has yet to announce plans for data centres in the Middle East, with three regions in India serving as its closest operations.

AWS said in September it would set up data centres for the region in neighbouring Bahrain.

The kingdom has been streamlining its many overlapping laws which could apply to cloud computing for more than a year in order to attract service providers.

If completed, a cloud deal could pave the way for an expansion of Amazon retail warehouses in Saudi Arabia.

Although Amazon operates its diverse business units separately, it has rolled out its near-full suite of retail, third-party marketplace and cloud services in countries of operation over time.

Apple stores would raise the profile of the company&#39;s products and offer repairs and community events in line with its strategy to brand its stores as &quot;town squares&quot;.

Both companies already sell products in Saudi Arabia via third parties but they and other global tech giants have yet to establish a direct presence.

Apple and Amazon are in licensing discussions with Riyadh on investing in Saudi Arabia, two sources told Reuters, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's push to give the conservative kingdom a high-tech look. A third source confirmed that Apple was in talks with SAGIA, Saudi Arabia's foreign investment authority. Both companies already sell products in Saudi Arabia via third parties but they and other global tech giants have yet to establish a direct presence. Amazon's discussions are being led by cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS), which would introduce stiff competition in a market currently dominated by smaller local providers like STC and Mobily. Riyadh has been easing regulatory impediments for the past two years, including limits on foreign ownership which had long kept investors away, since falling crude prices highlighted the need to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Luring Apple and Amazon would further Prince Mohammed's reform plans and raise the companies' profile in a young and relatively affluent market, which already boasts some of the highest internet and smartphone use in the world. About 70 percent of the Saudi population is under 30 and frequently glued to social media. A licensing agreement for Apple stores with SAGIA is expected by February, with an initial retail store targeted for 2019, said two sources familiar with the discussions. Amazon's talks are in earlier stages and no specific date has been set for investment plans, they said. Apple already holds second place in the Saudi mobile phone market behind Samsung, according to market researcher Euromonitor. Amazon acquired Dubai-based online retailer Souq.com earlier in 2017, opening access for Amazon retail goods to be sold in the kingdom. Both companies declined to comment, while SAGIA was not immediately available to answer questions about the discussions. Lengthy courtship While Saudi reform plans call for luring foreign investment broadly across sectors, officials have courted Silicon Valley players especially strongly over the past two years to complement their high-tech ambitions. Prince Mohammed is an avowed technophile and has styled himself a disrupter in the model of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. During an official visit to the United States last year he met executives at Facebook, Microsoft and Uber, in which the sovereign wealth fund he chairs later took a $3.5 billion stake. Since then, he has also set up a $45 billion technology investment fund with Japan's SoftBank and announced plans to create a futuristic $500 billion mega-city with more robots than humans. Apple and Amazon have both been on a Saudi priority list of foreign firms which officials hope to attract to further their reforms, one of the sources said. "Many tech multinationals now in Saudi Arabia are either vendors to the Saudi government or, in the case of Uber, have benefited from a sizable Saudi investment," said Sam Blatteis, who heads Dubai-based tech advisory MENA Catalysts Inc. "Amazon entering the Saudi market would be a step-change." For Amazon, the move underscores how AWS is looking to take an early lead in selling data storage and computing services to customers in the Middle East. AWS, the world's biggest cloud business by revenue, has embarked on a slower global expansion than No.2 Microsoft, which now offers cloud services in twice as many regions. However, Microsoft has yet to announce plans for data centres in the Middle East, with three regions in India serving as its closest operations. AWS said in September it would set up data centres for the region in neighbouring Bahrain. The kingdom has been streamlining its many overlapping laws which could apply to cloud computing for more than a year in order to attract service providers. If completed, a cloud deal could pave the way for an expansion of Amazon retail warehouses in Saudi Arabia. Although Amazon operates its diverse business units separately, it has rolled out its near-full suite of retail, third-party marketplace and cloud services in countries of operation over time. Apple stores would raise the profile of the company's products and offer repairs and community events in line with its strategy to brand its stores as "town squares".

Apple and Amazon in talks to set up in Saudi Arabia: Reports

Apple Inc defrauded iPhone users by slowing devices without warning to compensate for poor battery performance, according to eight lawsuits filed in various federal courts in the week since the company opened up about the year-old software change.

The tweak may have led iPhone owners to misguided attempts to resolve issues over the last year, the lawsuits contend.

All the lawsuits - filed in U.S. District Courts in California, New York and Illinois - seek class-action to represent potentially millions of iPhone owners nationwide.

A similar case was lodged in an Israeli court on Monday, the newspaper Haaretz reported.

Apple did not respond to an email seeking comment on the filings.

The company acknowledged last week for the first time in detail that operating system updates released since &quot;last year&quot; for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone SE and iPhone 7 included a feature &quot;to smooth out&quot; power supply from batteries that are cold, old or low on charge.

Phones without the adjustment would shut down abruptly because of a precaution designed to prevent components from getting fried, Apple said.

The disclosure followed a Dec. 18 analysis by Primate Labs, which develops an iPhone performance measuring app, that identified blips in processing speed and concluded that a software change had to be behind them.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/apple-might-be-slowing-down-old-iphones-27316" target="_blank">Apple might be slowing down old iPhones</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-admits-slowing-down-older-iphones-27401" target="_blank">Apple admits to slowing down older iPhones</a>

One of the lawsuits, filed Thursday in San Francisco, said that &quot;the batteries&#39; inability to handle the demand created by processor speeds&quot; without the software patch was a defect.

&quot;Rather than curing the battery defect by providing a free battery replacement for all affected iPhones, Apple sought to mask the battery defect,&quot; according to the complaint.

The plaintiff in that case is represented by attorney Jeffrey Fazio, who represented plaintiffs in a $53-million settlement with Apple in 2013 over its handling of iPhone warranty claims.

The problem now seen is that users over the last year could have blamed an aging computer processor for app crashes and sluggish performance - and chose to buy a new phone - when the true cause may have been a weak battery that could have been replaced for a fraction of the cost, some of the lawsuits state.

&quot;If it turns out that consumers would have replaced their battery instead of buying new iPhones had they known the true nature of Apple&#39;s upgrades, you might start to have a better case for some sort of misrepresentation or fraud,&quot; said Rory Van Loo, a Boston University professor specializing in consumer technology law.

But Chris Hoofnagle, faculty director for the Berkeley Center for Law &amp; Technology, said in an email that Apple may not have done wrong.

&quot;We still haven&#39;t come to consumer protection norms&quot; around aging products, Hoofnagle said. Pointing to a device with a security flaw as an example, he said, &quot;the ethical approach could include degrading or even disabling functionality.&quot;

The lawsuits seek unspecified damages in addition to, in some cases, reimbursement. A couple of the complaints seek court orders barring Apple from throttling iPhone computer speeds or requiring notification in future instances.

The lawsuits -- filed in district courts in California, New York and Illinois -- seek class-action to represent potentially millions of iPhone owners across the the US

Apple Inc defrauded iPhone users by slowing devices without warning to compensate for poor battery performance, according to eight lawsuits filed in various federal courts in the week since the company opened up about the year-old software change. The tweak may have led iPhone owners to misguided attempts to resolve issues over the last year, the lawsuits contend. All the lawsuits - filed in U.S. District Courts in California, New York and Illinois - seek class-action to represent potentially millions of iPhone owners nationwide. A similar case was lodged in an Israeli court on Monday, the newspaper Haaretz reported. Apple did not respond to an email seeking comment on the filings. The company acknowledged last week for the first time in detail that operating system updates released since "last year" for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone SE and iPhone 7 included a feature "to smooth out" power supply from batteries that are cold, old or low on charge. Phones without the adjustment would shut down abruptly because of a precaution designed to prevent components from getting fried, Apple said. The disclosure followed a Dec. 18 analysis by Primate Labs, which develops an iPhone performance measuring app, that identified blips in processing speed and concluded that a software change had to be behind them. Also read: Apple might be slowing down old iPhones Also read: Apple admits to slowing down older iPhones One of the lawsuits, filed Thursday in San Francisco, said that "the batteries' inability to handle the demand created by processor speeds" without the software patch was a defect. "Rather than curing the battery defect by providing a free battery replacement for all affected iPhones, Apple sought to mask the battery defect," according to the complaint. The plaintiff in that case is represented by attorney Jeffrey Fazio, who represented plaintiffs in a $53-million settlement with Apple in 2013 over its handling of iPhone warranty claims. The problem now seen is that users over the last year could have blamed an aging computer processor for app crashes and sluggish performance - and chose to buy a new phone - when the true cause may have been a weak battery that could have been replaced for a fraction of the cost, some of the lawsuits state. "If it turns out that consumers would have replaced their battery instead of buying new iPhones had they known the true nature of Apple's upgrades, you might start to have a better case for some sort of misrepresentation or fraud," said Rory Van Loo, a Boston University professor specializing in consumer technology law. But Chris Hoofnagle, faculty director for the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, said in an email that Apple may not have done wrong. "We still haven't come to consumer protection norms" around aging products, Hoofnagle said. Pointing to a device with a security flaw as an example, he said, "the ethical approach could include degrading or even disabling functionality." The lawsuits seek unspecified damages in addition to, in some cases, reimbursement. A couple of the complaints seek court orders barring Apple from throttling iPhone computer speeds or requiring notification in future instances.

Apple faces lawsuits after admitting it slows down old iPhones

Shares in several of Apple Inc&#39;s Asian suppliers fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, hurt by a report from Taiwan&#39;s Economic Daily and some analysts saying that iPhone X demand could come in below expectations in the first quarter.

Apple will slash its sales forecast for the iPhone X in the quarter to 30 million units, the Taiwanese newspaper said on Monday, citing unidentified sources - down from what it said was an initial plan of 50 million units.

Apple has not publicly disclosed quarterly sales targets for the iPhone X, which went on sale in November.

Some analysts have also flagged disappointing demand. US-based JL Warren Capital is predicting shipments of just 25 million units as consumers baulk at the &quot;high price point and a lack of interesting innovations&quot;.

Chinese broker Sinolink Securities said it expects the model&#39;s price would dampen consumer enthusiasm for the product, adding that slow production rates could also hinder sales.

But others were more bullish.

&quot;Our work continues to suggest the March and June quarters will have a significant amount of iPhone X make-up shipments,&quot; Chicago-based Loop Capital said in a note last week, forecasting shipments of 40-45 million units in the first quarter of 2018, up from an estimated 30-35 million units in the current quarter.

Analysts at Jefferies have also forecast around 40 million iPhone X sales for the first quarter.

An Apple spokeswoman said the company does not comment on market rumors. During a trip to China this month Apple CEO Tim Cook said he &quot;couldn&#39;t be happier&quot; with the demand for the iPhone X in the country.

Apple suppliers that were most hit included Genius Electronic Optical Co Ltd which dropped 2.4 percent on Tuesday to take its losses this week to 11.4 percent. Pegatron Corp also fell on both days, losing 3.2 percent this week.

But falls for Foxconn, one of Apple&#39;s main suppliers formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, were milder and it has lost only 1.8 percent over the two days.

A Reuters analysis of Chinese social media shows that interest in the iPhone X - which spiked around its launch - has not kept pace with the highly popular iPhone 6 released in 2014, which helped then drive massive sales for Apple in China.

There were only 4.97 million Weibo posts mentioning the iPhone X so far in December compared to over 11 million for the iPhone 6 in the equivalent period in 2014, the analysis showed.

Apple&#39;s stock has risen over 50 percent in 2017 and is currently valued at just under $900 billion.

Shares in several of Apple Inc's Asian suppliers fell for a second straight day on Tuesday

Shares in several of Apple Inc's Asian suppliers fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, hurt by a report from Taiwan's Economic Daily and some analysts saying that iPhone X demand could come in below expectations in the first quarter. Apple will slash its sales forecast for the iPhone X in the quarter to 30 million units, the Taiwanese newspaper said on Monday, citing unidentified sources - down from what it said was an initial plan of 50 million units. Apple has not publicly disclosed quarterly sales targets for the iPhone X, which went on sale in November. Some analysts have also flagged disappointing demand. US-based JL Warren Capital is predicting shipments of just 25 million units as consumers baulk at the "high price point and a lack of interesting innovations". Chinese broker Sinolink Securities said it expects the model's price would dampen consumer enthusiasm for the product, adding that slow production rates could also hinder sales. But others were more bullish. "Our work continues to suggest the March and June quarters will have a significant amount of iPhone X make-up shipments," Chicago-based Loop Capital said in a note last week, forecasting shipments of 40-45 million units in the first quarter of 2018, up from an estimated 30-35 million units in the current quarter. Analysts at Jefferies have also forecast around 40 million iPhone X sales for the first quarter. An Apple spokeswoman said the company does not comment on market rumors. During a trip to China this month Apple CEO Tim Cook said he "couldn't be happier" with the demand for the iPhone X in the country. Apple suppliers that were most hit included Genius Electronic Optical Co Ltd which dropped 2.4 percent on Tuesday to take its losses this week to 11.4 percent. Pegatron Corp also fell on both days, losing 3.2 percent this week. But falls for Foxconn, one of Apple's main suppliers formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, were milder and it has lost only 1.8 percent over the two days. A Reuters analysis of Chinese social media shows that interest in the iPhone X - which spiked around its launch - has not kept pace with the highly popular iPhone 6 released in 2014, which helped then drive massive sales for Apple in China. There were only 4.97 million Weibo posts mentioning the iPhone X so far in December compared to over 11 million for the iPhone 6 in the equivalent period in 2014, the analysis showed. Apple's stock has risen over 50 percent in 2017 and is currently valued at just under $900 billion.

Apple suppliers drop on report of weak iPhone X demand; analysts' views mixed

As reports of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/apple-might-be-slowing-down-old-iphones-27316">Apple slowing down its old iPhones</a> surfaced, chaos broke.

Apple&#39;s iOS 10.2.1 and 11.2.0 updates were primarily meant to prevent random shutdowns on iPhone 6, 6S, SE and 7.&nbsp;

Some of the recent reports and tales of consumer experiences also noted that the updates chocked old iPhone handsets&#39; processors, making them perform slower.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Apple: the battery degrades over time, so we make software tweaks to compensate for it. 
 
also Apple: we make it incredibly difficult to install a replacement battery in our phones. 
 
also also Apple: buy a new phone.<a href="https://t.co/F56R3iaq56">https://t.co/F56R3iaq56</a>
&mdash; santos l. halper (@dcseifert) <a href="https://twitter.com/dcseifert/status/943578934301659139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Shortly after reports emerged, Apple, in an official statement, admitted the same.

The company stated that although the software updates were designed to &quot;smooth out&quot; peak power demands and prevent unexpected shutdowns, the same may also lead to slower speed in iPhone handsets with low-capacity batteries. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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So it&#39;s true Apple intentionally slow down old iPhones. Proof: My iPhone 6 was bought 3years ago and recently got really slow. APP &#39;CPU DasherX&#39; shows iPhone CPU is under clocked running at 600MHz. After a iPhone battery replacement. CPU speed resumed to factory setting 1400MHz. <a href="https://t.co/pML3y0Jkp2">pic.twitter.com/pML3y0Jkp2</a>
&mdash; Sam_Si (@sam_siruomu) <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_siruomu/status/943400254451335168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Here&#39;s a look at what tech journos, enthusiasts and iPhone patrons had to say on the same:

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I&rsquo;m out of phone contract yet cannot / will not allow myself to update with another <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> iPhone following the deliberate and very noticeable slowing of my iPhone 6. My phone was NOT cheap and now feel somewhat cheated. Very poor <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/customer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#customer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/care?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#care</a>
&mdash; Martin Knights (@martinknights44) <a href="https://twitter.com/martinknights44/status/943849577303568386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Dear, <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> 
I know my iPhone 6s is a little old but if you think for one sec that you&#39;re going to keep slowing my phone down in hopes i &quot;upgrade&quot; you have another thing coming pal!! 
 
Signed, 
Frugal Jess
&mdash; JESSE with no &quot;i&quot; (@Mr4thAndLong) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mr4thAndLong/status/939002365469798401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/chris_writes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chris_writes</a> Dude, Apple is just full of it. According to them they&#39;re slowing down phones to extend battery life? How obvious could they be? And when do they decide your phone needs protection, when they drop their s version 6 months later?
&mdash; Aldo Rodriguez (@Aesir27) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aesir27/status/943852158843277312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Recent reports and tales of consumer experiences also noted the updates chocked old iPhone handsets' processors

As reports of Apple slowing down its old iPhones surfaced, chaos broke. Apple's iOS 10.2.1 and 11.2.0 updates were primarily meant to prevent random shutdowns on iPhone 6, 6S, SE and 7. Some of the recent reports and tales of consumer experiences also noted that the updates chocked old iPhone handsets' processors, making them perform slower. Apple: the battery degrades over time, so we make software tweaks to compensate for it. also Apple: we make it incredibly difficult to install a replacement battery in our phones. also also Apple: buy a new phone.https://t.co/F56R3iaq56 — santos l. halper (@dcseifert) December 20, 2017 × Shortly after reports emerged, Apple, in an official statement, admitted the same. The company stated that although the software updates were designed to "smooth out" peak power demands and prevent unexpected shutdowns, the same may also lead to slower speed in iPhone handsets with low-capacity batteries. So it's true Apple intentionally slow down old iPhones. Proof: My iPhone 6 was bought 3years ago and recently got really slow. APP 'CPU DasherX' shows iPhone CPU is under clocked running at 600MHz. After a iPhone battery replacement. CPU speed resumed to factory setting 1400MHz. pic.twitter.com/pML3y0Jkp2 — Sam_Si (@sam_siruomu) December 20, 2017 × Here's a look at what tech journos, enthusiasts and iPhone patrons had to say on the same: I’m out of phone contract yet cannot / will not allow myself to update with another @Apple iPhone following the deliberate and very noticeable slowing of my iPhone 6. My phone was NOT cheap and now feel somewhat cheated. Very poor #customer #care — Martin Knights (@martinknights44) December 21, 2017 × Dear, @Apple I know my iPhone 6s is a little old but if you think for one sec that you're going to keep slowing my phone down in hopes i "upgrade" you have another thing coming pal!! Signed, Frugal Jess — JESSE with no "i" (@Mr4thAndLong) December 8, 2017 × @chris_writes Dude, Apple is just full of it. According to them they're slowing down phones to extend battery life? How obvious could they be? And when do they decide your phone needs protection, when they drop their s version 6 months later? — Aldo Rodriguez (@Aesir27) December 21, 2017 ×

Apple admits to slowing down older iPhones

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

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

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

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

Apple has revealed its &#39;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-best-of-apple-a-look-at-top-apps-and-games-of-2017-26155" target="_blank">best of 2017</a>&#39; list that features top rated and most popular apps, games, movies, music and trends across various Apple products and platforms. What&#39;s even more exciting is the fact that some of the popular Indian apps have also been featured under various sections.

Indian apps like Zomato, UrbanClap, Swiggy, OLX Classifieds and BookMyShow were among the top lifestyle applications&nbsp;under &#39;Save Time, Live Life&#39;&nbsp;category.&nbsp;

The category was described as featuring &quot;Time-saving apps that help us get more done each day&quot;. &quot;Time-saving personal services came into their own this year and continue to evolve,&quot; the release noted.&nbsp;

ALTBalaji, Voot, SonyLiv and Hotstar emerged as top applications of the year under &#39;Stream Anytime, Anyplace&#39; category.&nbsp;

Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year.

&quot;Our App Store editors have chosen the most download-worthy games and apps based on topics and trends that were popular on the App Store throughout the year,&quot; noted the official release.

&#39;Enlight Videoleap&#39; was rated as the best app of the year across countries while Splitter Clitters topped the list as the best game of the year in most countries.&nbsp;

ALTBalaji, Voot, SonyLiv and Hotstar emerged top applications of the year under 'Stream Anytime, Anyplace' category

Apple has revealed its 'best of 2017' list that features top rated and most popular apps, games, movies, music and trends across various Apple products and platforms. What's even more exciting is the fact that some of the popular Indian apps have also been featured under various sections. Indian apps like Zomato, UrbanClap, Swiggy, OLX Classifieds and BookMyShow were among the top lifestyle applications under 'Save Time, Live Life' category. The category was described as featuring "Time-saving apps that help us get more done each day". "Time-saving personal services came into their own this year and continue to evolve," the release noted. ALTBalaji, Voot, SonyLiv and Hotstar emerged as top applications of the year under 'Stream Anytime, Anyplace' category. Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year. "Our App Store editors have chosen the most download-worthy games and apps based on topics and trends that were popular on the App Store throughout the year," noted the official release. 'Enlight Videoleap' was rated as the best app of the year across countries while Splitter Clitters topped the list as the best game of the year in most countries.

Zomato, UrbanClap, Swiggy feature in Apple's best apps of 2017

The leader of Germany&#39;s Social Democrats (SPD) took aim at US&nbsp;technology firms Apple, Facebook and Google on Thursday, saying a strong Europe was needed to make sure they stick to the rules.

Martin Schulz, who hopes to persuade his party to approve talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on forming a new coalition, told a congress of his SPD party that Ireland was complicit in allowing companies like Apple to avoid billions of euros in tax.

He also called for the creation of a European finance minister, who should fight tax evasion by reining in the race to the bottom in tax policy among member states.

&quot;Only a strong Europe can force platform giants like Facebook and Google to respect our rules and basic rights,&quot; he said.

The leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) took aim at US?technology firms Apple, Facebook and Google on Thursday, saying a strong Europe was needed to make sure they stick to the rules

The leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) took aim at US technology firms Apple, Facebook and Google on Thursday, saying a strong Europe was needed to make sure they stick to the rules. Martin Schulz, who hopes to persuade his party to approve talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on forming a new coalition, told a congress of his SPD party that Ireland was complicit in allowing companies like Apple to avoid billions of euros in tax. He also called for the creation of a European finance minister, who should fight tax evasion by reining in the race to the bottom in tax policy among member states. "Only a strong Europe can force platform giants like Facebook and Google to respect our rules and basic rights," he said.

German SPD leader takes aim at US tech giants

As the year-end draws closer, Apple has revealed a list summing up best apps and top games of the year. &#39;Enlight Videoleap&#39; was rated as the best app. &lsquo;Affinity Photo&rsquo; was the best app of the year on iPad. The list of top apps for 2017 includes WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, PayTm, Messenger, SHAREit, Instagram, Google Maps, Uber, Hotstar, Amazon, Ola cabs, Gmail, Wynk, MyJio, My Airtel, Google Chrome, Flipkart, Snapchat and imo video calls and chat. Aurora HDR 2018 emerged as the best app of the year for Mac. Calm featured as the best app of the year on iPhone in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

For die-heart gamers, the list also revealed the top game of the year, Splitter Clitters topped the list in most countries. The Witness featured as the best game on iPad in a host of countries. The world of apps and gaming saw a significant boost this year. Augmented Reality was one of the top features across some of the most noticeable applications and games this year. Besides this, real-time competitive gaming also garnered much popularity in 2017.&nbsp;

Not only this, Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year. &quot;Our App Store editors have chosen the most download-worthy games and apps based on topics and trends that were popular on the App Store throughout the year,&quot; noted the official release.&nbsp;

It must be noted that the list varies from country to country.&nbsp;

Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year

As the year-end draws closer, Apple has revealed a list summing up best apps and top games of the year. 'Enlight Videoleap' was rated as the best app. ‘Affinity Photo’ was the best app of the year on iPad. The list of top apps for 2017 includes WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, PayTm, Messenger, SHAREit, Instagram, Google Maps, Uber, Hotstar, Amazon, Ola cabs, Gmail, Wynk, MyJio, My Airtel, Google Chrome, Flipkart, Snapchat and imo video calls and chat. Aurora HDR 2018 emerged as the best app of the year for Mac. Calm featured as the best app of the year on iPhone in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and the United Kingdom. For die-heart gamers, the list also revealed the top game of the year, Splitter Clitters topped the list in most countries. The Witness featured as the best game on iPad in a host of countries. The world of apps and gaming saw a significant boost this year. Augmented Reality was one of the top features across some of the most noticeable applications and games this year. Besides this, real-time competitive gaming also garnered much popularity in 2017. Not only this, Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year. "Our App Store editors have chosen the most download-worthy games and apps based on topics and trends that were popular on the App Store throughout the year," noted the official release. It must be noted that the list varies from country to country.

Best of 2017: Apple reveals top games and apps of the year

Facebook on Monday unveiled a version of its Messenger application for children, aimed at enabling kids under 12 to connect with others under parental supervision.

Messenger Kids is being rolled out for Apple iOS mobile devices in the United States on a test basis as a standalone video chat and messaging app.

Product manager Loren Cheng said the social network leader is offering Messenger Kids because &quot;there&#39;s a need for a messaging app that lets kids connect with people they love but also has the level&nbsp; of control parents want.&quot;

Facebook said that the new app, with no ads or in-app purchases, is aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds. It enables parents to control the contact list and does not allow children to connect with anyone their parent does not approve.

The social media giant added it designed the app because many children are going online without safeguards.

&quot;Many of us at Facebook are parents ourselves, and it seems we weren&#39;t alone when we realized that our kids were getting online earlier and earlier,&quot; a Facebook statement said.

It cited a study showing that 93 per cent of 6- to 12-year-olds in the US have access to tablets or smartphones, and two-thirds have a smartphone or tablet of their own.

&quot;We want to help ensure the experiences our kids have when using technology are positive, safer, and age-appropriate, and we believe teaching kids how to use technology in positive ways will bring better experiences later as they grow,&quot; the company said.

Facebook&#39;s rules require that children be at least 13 to create an account, but many are believed to get around the restrictions.

Cheng said Facebook conducted its own research and worked with &quot;over a dozen expert advisors&quot; in building the app.

She added that data from children would not be used for ad profiles and that the application would be compliant with the Children&#39;s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA).

&quot;We&#39;ve worked extensively with parents and families to shape Messenger Kids and we&#39;re looking forward to learning and listening as more children and families start to use the iOS preview,&quot; Cheng said.

Messenger Kids is being rolled out for Apple iOS mobile devices in the United States on a test basis as a standalone video chat and messaging app

Facebook on Monday unveiled a version of its Messenger application for children, aimed at enabling kids under 12 to connect with others under parental supervision. Messenger Kids is being rolled out for Apple iOS mobile devices in the United States on a test basis as a standalone video chat and messaging app. Product manager Loren Cheng said the social network leader is offering Messenger Kids because "there's a need for a messaging app that lets kids connect with people they love but also has the level of control parents want." Facebook said that the new app, with no ads or in-app purchases, is aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds. It enables parents to control the contact list and does not allow children to connect with anyone their parent does not approve. The social media giant added it designed the app because many children are going online without safeguards. "Many of us at Facebook are parents ourselves, and it seems we weren't alone when we realized that our kids were getting online earlier and earlier," a Facebook statement said. It cited a study showing that 93 per cent of 6- to 12-year-olds in the US have access to tablets or smartphones, and two-thirds have a smartphone or tablet of their own. "We want to help ensure the experiences our kids have when using technology are positive, safer, and age-appropriate, and we believe teaching kids how to use technology in positive ways will bring better experiences later as they grow," the company said. Facebook's rules require that children be at least 13 to create an account, but many are believed to get around the restrictions. Cheng said Facebook conducted its own research and worked with "over a dozen expert advisors" in building the app. She added that data from children would not be used for ad profiles and that the application would be compliant with the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA). "We've worked extensively with parents and families to shape Messenger Kids and we're looking forward to learning and listening as more children and families start to use the iOS preview," Cheng said.

Facebook to launch chat app for kids, with parental controls

Apple has admitted a major security flaw in its Mac operating system which made it possible for anyone to access it without a password, saying it &quot;stumbled&quot; with its latest software, according to a media report.

The flaw, revealed on Tuesday, also made it possible to access powerful administrator rights of the system, Tech Crunch reported.

&quot;We greatly regret this error and we apologise to all Mac users. When our security engineers became aware of the issue Tuesday afternoon, we immediately began working on an update that closes the security hole,&quot; the firm was quoted as saying by BBC.

Apple has pushed out an update to fix the major security hole in its Mac operating system. The latest version of MacOS will automatically download the update.

&quot;This morning, the update is available for download, and starting later today it will be automatically installed on all systems running the latest version (10.13.1) of MacOS High Sierra,&quot; it added. 
It is only second time Apple has forcibly updated users&#39; machines and comes in response to widespread concern that millions of Mac computers were at risk, the report said.

Users running older versions of MacOS will see a notification prompting an upgrade.

&quot;Regrettably, we stumbled with this release of MacOS. We are auditing our development processes to help prevent this from happening again,&quot; it said.

Apple has pushed out an update to fix the major security hole in its Mac operating system. The latest version of MacOS will automatically download the update.

Apple has admitted a major security flaw in its Mac operating system which made it possible for anyone to access it without a password, saying it "stumbled" with its latest software, according to a media report. The flaw, revealed on Tuesday, also made it possible to access powerful administrator rights of the system, Tech Crunch reported. "We greatly regret this error and we apologise to all Mac users. When our security engineers became aware of the issue Tuesday afternoon, we immediately began working on an update that closes the security hole," the firm was quoted as saying by BBC. Apple has pushed out an update to fix the major security hole in its Mac operating system. The latest version of MacOS will automatically download the update. "This morning, the update is available for download, and starting later today it will be automatically installed on all systems running the latest version (10.13.1) of MacOS High Sierra," it added. It is only second time Apple has forcibly updated users' machines and comes in response to widespread concern that millions of Mac computers were at risk, the report said. Users running older versions of MacOS will see a notification prompting an upgrade. "Regrettably, we stumbled with this release of MacOS. We are auditing our development processes to help prevent this from happening again," it said.

Apple apologises for security flaw in Mac OS

Apple in a statement said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apples-iphone-x-hits-asia-stores-as-profits-soar-23431">Chinese &quot;high school students were made</a> to work illegally overtime making the iPhone X by its supplier&nbsp;Foxconn violating local labour laws.

&quot;We&#39;ve confirmed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-in-crisis-users-complaining-of-swollen-iphone-8-and-8-plus-21175">the students worked voluntarily, were</a> compensated and provided benefits, but they should not have been allowed to work overtime,&quot; Apple said in a statement.

The Financial Times in a report had said nearly 3,000 high school students were made to work for eleven hours a day in China&#39;s &nbsp;Zhengzhou city by iPhone&#39;s main Asian supplier Foxconn.

&quot;When we found that some students were allowed to work overtime, we took prompt action. A team of specialists is on site at the facility working with the management on systems to ensure the appropriate standards are adhered to,&quot; Apple said.

The Financial Times in its report said the students from Zhengzhou Urban Rail Transit School were made to work to &quot;log work experience required for graduation&quot;.

The report said the students, aged between 17-19, were being forced by their school to participate in the &quot;internship&quot;.

Apple&#39;s statement said that the company had sent staff to the site to address the violations.

&quot;Our policies do not allow interns to work more than 40 hours per week on programme-related assignments. Unfortunately, there have been a number of cases where portions of our campuses have not adhered to this policy,&quot; Foxconn said in a statement, adding that the interns accounted for a small part of the workforce.

Apple and Foxconn have been accused of poor labour practices in the past, five years ago Apple had said it had reduced the number of underage workers from its supply chain.

Zhengzhou, capital of China&#39;s Henan province is a major industrial town which hosts several technology companies.

The Financial Times in a report had said nearly 3,000 high school students were made to work for eleven hours a day in Zhengzhou by iPhone's main Asian supplier Foxconn

Apple in a statement said today Chinese "high school students were made to work illegally overtime making the iPhone X by its supplier Foxconn violating local labour laws. "We've confirmed the students worked voluntarily, were compensated and provided benefits, but they should not have been allowed to work overtime," Apple said in a statement. The Financial Times in a report had said nearly 3,000 high school students were made to work for eleven hours a day in China's Zhengzhou city by iPhone's main Asian supplier Foxconn. "When we found that some students were allowed to work overtime, we took prompt action. A team of specialists is on site at the facility working with the management on systems to ensure the appropriate standards are adhered to," Apple said. The Financial Times in its report said the students from Zhengzhou Urban Rail Transit School were made to work to "log work experience required for graduation". The report said the students, aged between 17-19, were being forced by their school to participate in the "internship". Apple's statement said that the company had sent staff to the site to address the violations. "Our policies do not allow interns to work more than 40 hours per week on programme-related assignments. Unfortunately, there have been a number of cases where portions of our campuses have not adhered to this policy," Foxconn said in a statement, adding that the interns accounted for a small part of the workforce. Apple and Foxconn have been accused of poor labour practices in the past, five years ago Apple had said it had reduced the number of underage workers from its supply chain. Zhengzhou, capital of China's Henan province is a major industrial town which hosts several technology companies.

Chinese students were made to work illegally overtime making iPhone X, confirms Apple

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to step back into the years-long feud over patents between the world&#39;s top smartphone makers, declining to hear Samsung&#39;s appeal of a lower court ruling that reinstated a jury award of about $120 million in favor of Apple.

The justices left in place a 2016 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that upheld a verdict that found South Korea&#39;s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd had infringed Apple Inc&#39;s patents on several popular features of the California-based company&#39;s iPhone. Those included slide-to-unlock, autocorrect and quick links, which automatically turn information like addresses and phone numbers into links.

The Supreme Court in December 2016 sided with Samsung in a separate case over its fight with Apple. In that one, the justices threw out a $399 million damages award against Samsung to its American rival for copying key iPhone designs.

A judge in California in October ordered a new trial over damages in that case.

The current appeal stems from a May 2014 verdict by a jury in federal court in San Jose, California ordering Samsung to pay $119.6 million for using the Apple features without permission. Infringement of the quick links feature accounted for nearly $99 million of the damages.

A three-judge panel of the Federal Circuit, a Washington-based court that specializes in patent matters, had originally overturned the verdict, but it was reinstated in an October 2016 ruling by a full slate of 11 judges on that court.

Appealing to the Supreme Court, Samsung said that the patent court&#39;s judges did not follow proper procedure in reviving the verdict because they made the decision without considering additional legal papers or hearing oral arguments. The judges also wrongly changed the law related to invalidating patents and awarding injunctions, Samsung added.

In a dig at the patent court, Samsung told the justices in legal papers that they have &quot;long served as the bulwark when the Federal Circuit tips the balance too far in favor of patent-holders&#39; rights at the expense of innovation and competition.&quot;

Apple urged the justices to leave the jury award in place, saying there was nothing &quot;novel or important&quot; to review in its rival&#39;s appeal. The Trump administration backed Apple&#39;s view.

The justices left in place a 2016 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that upheld a verdict that found South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd had infringed Apple Inc's patents on several popular features of the California-based company's iPhone.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to step back into the years-long feud over patents between the world's top smartphone makers, declining to hear Samsung's appeal of a lower court ruling that reinstated a jury award of about $120 million in favor of Apple. The justices left in place a 2016 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that upheld a verdict that found South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd had infringed Apple Inc's patents on several popular features of the California-based company's iPhone. Those included slide-to-unlock, autocorrect and quick links, which automatically turn information like addresses and phone numbers into links. The Supreme Court in December 2016 sided with Samsung in a separate case over its fight with Apple. In that one, the justices threw out a $399 million damages award against Samsung to its American rival for copying key iPhone designs. A judge in California in October ordered a new trial over damages in that case. The current appeal stems from a May 2014 verdict by a jury in federal court in San Jose, California ordering Samsung to pay $119.6 million for using the Apple features without permission. Infringement of the quick links feature accounted for nearly $99 million of the damages. A three-judge panel of the Federal Circuit, a Washington-based court that specializes in patent matters, had originally overturned the verdict, but it was reinstated in an October 2016 ruling by a full slate of 11 judges on that court. Appealing to the Supreme Court, Samsung said that the patent court's judges did not follow proper procedure in reviving the verdict because they made the decision without considering additional legal papers or hearing oral arguments. The judges also wrongly changed the law related to invalidating patents and awarding injunctions, Samsung added. In a dig at the patent court, Samsung told the justices in legal papers that they have "long served as the bulwark when the Federal Circuit tips the balance too far in favor of patent-holders' rights at the expense of innovation and competition." Apple urged the justices to leave the jury award in place, saying there was nothing "novel or important" to review in its rival's appeal. The Trump administration backed Apple's view.

Top US court rejects Samsung's appeal on patent loss to Apple

Apple&#39;s&nbsp;stellar earnings report came just as the iPhone X went on sale on Friday morning in several countries. Despite its hefty price, long lines of buyers were seen at Apple stores around the world from the Thursday night.&nbsp;Introducing the phone in September, Apple chief executive Tim Cook called the iPhone X&nbsp;&quot;the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone.&quot; It has been launched to mark the tenth anniversary of the first iPhone.

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iPhone X is here! A big thank-you to all our customers in Sydney, and everyone turning out around the world Friday! ?? <a href="https://t.co/5NKXUnePLu">pic.twitter.com/5NKXUnePLu</a>
&mdash; Tim Cook (@tim_cook) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/926235364313960449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Big queues outside <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Apple?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Apple</a> store awaiting launch of iPhone X <a href="https://t.co/v4uS1L8d6O">pic.twitter.com/v4uS1L8d6O</a>
&mdash; Chris Ralph (@ChrisRalph) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisRalph/status/926336433291452416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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iPhone X price in India starts at Rs. 89,000 for 64GB variant.&nbsp;The 256GB variant is priced at Rs. 1,02,000,&nbsp; will be available in Silver and Space Grey colours.

Apart from India, the iPhone is&nbsp;on sale in Australia, France, New Zealand, UK, US, and UAE and several other countries as well.&nbsp;

The premium&nbsp;iPhone&nbsp;X got sold out in minutes as&nbsp;people around the world lined up to get their&nbsp;hands on Apple&#39;s latest offering. The iPhone X is the most expensive smartphone from Apple. But gathering from the reaction of Twitter, users are liking the device, especially&nbsp;its camera and face recognition features.&nbsp;

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iPhone X price starts from $999 worldwide for its 64GB variant. (Reuters)
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long queues in waiting to buy latest iPhone X in Dubai (Twitter)
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Many celebs including Karan Johar were the first ones to get this premium iphone first and shared it on Twitter

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Very cool new features on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iPhone8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iPhone8</a> inc. portrait mode lighting effects... short queues and underwhelming launch though <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Apple?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Apple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iPhoneX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iPhoneX</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rtwy3LZfpV">pic.twitter.com/Rtwy3LZfpV</a>
&mdash; Tom Bright (@MusicTechEd) <a href="https://twitter.com/MusicTechEd/status/911697831622213633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Portrait Lighting on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iPhoneX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iPhoneX</a> front camera is one reason many might buy this phone <a href="https://t.co/9UE2T5Vblc">pic.twitter.com/9UE2T5Vblc</a>
&mdash; Varun Krishnan (@varunkrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/varunkrish/status/925914050646573058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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What an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ittefaq?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ittefaq</a> I got my <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iPhoneX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iPhoneX</a> !!!! So excited!!!! <a href="https://t.co/gTwjMEmtg2">pic.twitter.com/gTwjMEmtg2</a>
&mdash; Karan Johar (@karanjohar) <a href="https://twitter.com/karanjohar/status/926327472223797248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

iPhone X price in India starts at Rs. 89,000 for 64GB variant. The 256GB variant is priced at Rs. 1,02,000,? will be available in Silver and Space Grey colours.

Apple's stellar earnings report came just as the iPhone X went on sale on Friday morning in several countries. Despite its hefty price, long lines of buyers were seen at Apple stores around the world from the Thursday night. Introducing the phone in September, Apple chief executive Tim Cook called the iPhone X "the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone." It has been launched to mark the tenth anniversary of the first iPhone. iPhone X is here! A big thank-you to all our customers in Sydney, and everyone turning out around the world Friday! ?? pic.twitter.com/5NKXUnePLu — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) November 2, 2017 × Big queues outside #Apple store awaiting launch of iPhone X pic.twitter.com/v4uS1L8d6O — Chris Ralph (@ChrisRalph) November 3, 2017 × iPhone X price in India starts at Rs. 89,000 for 64GB variant. The 256GB variant is priced at Rs. 1,02,000, will be available in Silver and Space Grey colours. Apart from India, the iPhone is on sale in Australia, France, New Zealand, UK, US, and UAE and several other countries as well. The premium iPhone X got sold out in minutes as people around the world lined up to get their hands on Apple's latest offering. The iPhone X is the most expensive smartphone from Apple. But gathering from the reaction of Twitter, users are liking the device, especially its camera and face recognition features. iPhone X price starts from $999 worldwide for its 64GB variant. (Reuters) × long queues in waiting to buy latest iPhone X in Dubai (Twitter) × Many celebs including Karan Johar were the first ones to get this premium iphone first and shared it on Twitter Very cool new features on #iPhone8 inc. portrait mode lighting effects... short queues and underwhelming launch though #Apple #iPhoneX pic.twitter.com/Rtwy3LZfpV — Tom Bright (@MusicTechEd) September 23, 2017 × Portrait Lighting on #iPhoneX front camera is one reason many might buy this phone pic.twitter.com/9UE2T5Vblc — Varun Krishnan (@varunkrish) November 2, 2017 × What an #Ittefaq I got my #iPhoneX !!!! So excited!!!! pic.twitter.com/gTwjMEmtg2 — Karan Johar (@karanjohar) November 3, 2017 ×

iPhone X, Apple's most expensive, vanishes from stores minutes after launch

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

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

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

Apple's iPhone X hits Asia stores as profits soar

Apple Inc won accolades from privacy experts in September for assuring that facial data used to unlock its new iPhone X would be securely stored on the phone itself.

But Apple&#39;s privacy promises do not extend to the thousands of app developers who will gain access to facial data in order to build entertainment features for iPhone X customers, such as pinning a three-dimensional mask to their face for a selfie or letting a video game character mirror the player&#39;s real-world facial expressions.

Apple allows developers to take certain facial data off the phone as long as they agree to seek customer permission and not sell the data to third parties, among other terms in a contract.

App makers who want to use the new camera on the iPhone X can capture a rough map of a user&#39;s face and a stream of more than 50 kinds of facial expressions. This data, which can be removed from the phone and stored on a developer&#39;s own servers, can help monitor how often users blink, smile or even raise an eyebrow.

That remote storage raises questions about how effectively Apple can enforce its privacy rules, according to privacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology. Apple maintains that its enforcement tools - which include pre-publication reviews, audits of apps and the threat of kicking developers off its lucrative App Store are effective.

The data available to developers cannot unlock a phone&nbsp;that process relies on a mathematical representation of the face rather than a visual map of it, according to documentation about the face unlock system that Apple released to security researchers.

But the relative ease with which developers can whisk away face data to remote servers leaves Apple sending conflicting messages: Face data is highly private when used for authentication, but it is sharable&nbsp;with the user&#39;s permission&nbsp; when used to build app features.

&quot;The privacy issues around of the use of very sophisticated facial recognition technology for unlocking the phone have been overblown,&quot; said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union. &quot;The real privacy issues have to do with the access by third-party developers.&quot;

The use of face recognition is becoming ubiquitous on everything from social networks to city streets with surveillance cameras. Berlin law enforcement officials in August installed a facial recognition system at the city&rsquo;s main railway station to test new technology for catching criminals and terrorists.

But privacy concerns loom large. In Illinois, Facebook Inc faces a lawsuit over whether its photo tagging suggestions violated a state law that bars the collection of biometric data without permission. Facebook says it has always been clear with users that it can be turned off and the data for it deleted.

Privacy experts say their concerns about iPhone X are not about government snooping, since huge troves of facial photographs already exist on social media and even in state motor vehicle departments. The issue is more about unscrupulous marketers eager to track users&#39; facial expressions in response to advertisements or content, despite Apple&#39;s contractual rules against doing so.

App makers must &quot;obtain clear and conspicuous consent&quot; from users before collecting or storing face data, and can only do so for a legitimate feature of an app, according to the relevant portions of Apple&#39;s developer agreement that Apple provided to Reuters.

Apple&#39;s iOS operating system also asks users to grant permission for an app to access to any of the phone&#39;s cameras.

Apple forbids developers from using the face data for advertising or marketing, and from selling it to data brokers or analytics firms that might use it for those purposes. The company also bans the creation of user profiles that could be used to identify anonymous users, according to its developer agreement.

&quot;The bottom line is, Apple is trying to make this a user experience addition to the iPhone X, and not an advertising addition,&quot; said Clare Garvie, an associate with the Center on Privacy &amp; Technology at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington.

ENFORCEMENT IN QUESTION

Though they praised Apple&#39;s policies on face data, privacy experts worry about the potential inability to control what app developers do with face data once it leaves the iPhone X, and whether the tech company&#39;s disclosure policies adequately alert customers.

The company has had high-profile mishaps enforcing its own rules in the past, such as the 2012 controversy around Path, a social networking app that was found to be saving users&#39; contact lists to its servers, a violation of Apple&#39;s rules.

One app developer told that Apple&#39;s non-negotiable developer agreement is long and complex and rarely read in detail, just as most consumers do not know the details of what they agree to when they allow access to personal data.

Apple&#39;s main enforcement mechanism is the threat to kick apps out of the App store, though the company in 2011 told the US&nbsp;Congress that it had never punished an app in that way for sharing user information with third parties without permission.

Apple&#39;s other line of defense against privacy abuse is the review that all apps undergo before they hit the App Store. But the company does not review the source code of all apps, instead relying on random spot checks or complaints, according to 2011 Congressional testimony from Bud Tribble, one of the company&#39;s &quot;privacy czars.&quot;

With the iPhone X, the primary danger is that advertisers will find it irresistible to gauge how consumers react to products or to build tracking profiles of them, even though Apple explicitly bans such activity.

&quot;Apple does have a pretty good historical track record of holding developers accountable who violate their agreements, but they have to catch them first - and sometimes that&#39;s the hard part,&quot; the ACLU&#39;s Stanley said. &quot;It means household names probably won&#39;t exploit this, but there&#39;s still a lot of room for bottom feeders.&quot; 
&nbsp;

Apple allows developers to take certain facial data off the phone

Apple Inc won accolades from privacy experts in September for assuring that facial data used to unlock its new iPhone X would be securely stored on the phone itself. But Apple's privacy promises do not extend to the thousands of app developers who will gain access to facial data in order to build entertainment features for iPhone X customers, such as pinning a three-dimensional mask to their face for a selfie or letting a video game character mirror the player's real-world facial expressions. Apple allows developers to take certain facial data off the phone as long as they agree to seek customer permission and not sell the data to third parties, among other terms in a contract. App makers who want to use the new camera on the iPhone X can capture a rough map of a user's face and a stream of more than 50 kinds of facial expressions. This data, which can be removed from the phone and stored on a developer's own servers, can help monitor how often users blink, smile or even raise an eyebrow. That remote storage raises questions about how effectively Apple can enforce its privacy rules, according to privacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology. Apple maintains that its enforcement tools - which include pre-publication reviews, audits of apps and the threat of kicking developers off its lucrative App Store are effective. The data available to developers cannot unlock a phone that process relies on a mathematical representation of the face rather than a visual map of it, according to documentation about the face unlock system that Apple released to security researchers. But the relative ease with which developers can whisk away face data to remote servers leaves Apple sending conflicting messages: Face data is highly private when used for authentication, but it is sharable with the user's permission when used to build app features. "The privacy issues around of the use of very sophisticated facial recognition technology for unlocking the phone have been overblown," said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union. "The real privacy issues have to do with the access by third-party developers." The use of face recognition is becoming ubiquitous on everything from social networks to city streets with surveillance cameras. Berlin law enforcement officials in August installed a facial recognition system at the city’s main railway station to test new technology for catching criminals and terrorists. But privacy concerns loom large. In Illinois, Facebook Inc faces a lawsuit over whether its photo tagging suggestions violated a state law that bars the collection of biometric data without permission. Facebook says it has always been clear with users that it can be turned off and the data for it deleted. Privacy experts say their concerns about iPhone X are not about government snooping, since huge troves of facial photographs already exist on social media and even in state motor vehicle departments. The issue is more about unscrupulous marketers eager to track users' facial expressions in response to advertisements or content, despite Apple's contractual rules against doing so. App makers must "obtain clear and conspicuous consent" from users before collecting or storing face data, and can only do so for a legitimate feature of an app, according to the relevant portions of Apple's developer agreement that Apple provided to Reuters. Apple's iOS operating system also asks users to grant permission for an app to access to any of the phone's cameras. Apple forbids developers from using the face data for advertising or marketing, and from selling it to data brokers or analytics firms that might use it for those purposes. The company also bans the creation of user profiles that could be used to identify anonymous users, according to its developer agreement. "The bottom line is, Apple is trying to make this a user experience addition to the iPhone X, and not an advertising addition," said Clare Garvie, an associate with the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington. ENFORCEMENT IN QUESTION Though they praised Apple's policies on face data, privacy experts worry about the potential inability to control what app developers do with face data once it leaves the iPhone X, and whether the tech company's disclosure policies adequately alert customers. The company has had high-profile mishaps enforcing its own rules in the past, such as the 2012 controversy around Path, a social networking app that was found to be saving users' contact lists to its servers, a violation of Apple's rules. One app developer told that Apple's non-negotiable developer agreement is long and complex and rarely read in detail, just as most consumers do not know the details of what they agree to when they allow access to personal data. Apple's main enforcement mechanism is the threat to kick apps out of the App store, though the company in 2011 told the US Congress that it had never punished an app in that way for sharing user information with third parties without permission. Apple's other line of defense against privacy abuse is the review that all apps undergo before they hit the App Store. But the company does not review the source code of all apps, instead relying on random spot checks or complaints, according to 2011 Congressional testimony from Bud Tribble, one of the company's "privacy czars." With the iPhone X, the primary danger is that advertisers will find it irresistible to gauge how consumers react to products or to build tracking profiles of them, even though Apple explicitly bans such activity. "Apple does have a pretty good historical track record of holding developers accountable who violate their agreements, but they have to catch them first - and sometimes that's the hard part," the ACLU's Stanley said. "It means household names probably won't exploit this, but there's still a lot of room for bottom feeders."

App developer access to iPhone X face data spooks some privacy experts

The much-awaited worldwide launch of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-iphone-brings-face-recognition-and-fears-to-the-masses-23088" target="_blank">Apple iPhone X</a> is finally here!

However, unlike the previous iPhone launch when the stores had widespread availability of the device, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/iphone-x-launches-with-catastrophic-stock-shortage-22997" target="_blank">this year the company will be facing supply problems with iPhone X</a>.

Only the ones who have placed confirmed pre-order with the delivery date as November 3 will&nbsp;get the phone.&nbsp;

Retail employees have confirmed that the stores do not have much iPhone X stock. The in-store inventory at launch will be very limited.&nbsp;

You will be lucky if you manage to get hold of the new phone.&nbsp;

However, all stores will have a demo device of the new launch.The customers can analyse it and make their bookings.&nbsp;

The deliveries for them will be available in December or January.&nbsp;Meanwhile, reports have come out stating that some people who initially got the shipping date as November 10-17, will now be getting the phones on November 3.

While few others who were supposed to get the phone on November 17-24 are expected to get the deliveries on November 8.&nbsp;

iPhone is certainly trying to improve the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pre-orders-for-iphone-x-phone-everyone-said-was-too-expensive-sell-out-in-minutes-23075" target="_blank">production of iPhone X</a>.

Last month&nbsp;Apple launched three models together. The other two iPhone 8 and 8Plus have experienced weak sales.&nbsp;

This resulted in the downfall of Apple&#39;s shares last week.&nbsp;

The weak sales of the other two models is because of the slew of options that&nbsp;the tech giant provided to its users.

All stores will have a demo device of iPhone X. The customers can analyse it and make their bookings?

The much-awaited worldwide launch of Apple iPhone X is finally here! However, unlike the previous iPhone launch when the stores had widespread availability of the device, this year the company will be facing supply problems with iPhone X. Only the ones who have placed confirmed pre-order with the delivery date as November 3 will get the phone. Retail employees have confirmed that the stores do not have much iPhone X stock. The in-store inventory at launch will be very limited. You will be lucky if you manage to get hold of the new phone. However, all stores will have a demo device of the new launch.The customers can analyse it and make their bookings. The deliveries for them will be available in December or January. Meanwhile, reports have come out stating that some people who initially got the shipping date as November 10-17, will now be getting the phones on November 3. While few others who were supposed to get the phone on November 17-24 are expected to get the deliveries on November 8. iPhone is certainly trying to improve the production of iPhone X. Last month Apple launched three models together. The other two iPhone 8 and 8Plus have experienced weak sales. This resulted in the downfall of Apple's shares last week. The weak sales of the other two models is because of the slew of options that the tech giant provided to its users.

iPhone X to be launched with severe shortage supply

Apple Inc has designed iPhones and iPads that would drop chips supplied by Qualcomm Inc, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The change would affect iPhones released in the fall of 2018, but Apple could still change course before then, they said. They declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

The dispute stems from a change in supply arrangements under which Qualcomm has stopped providing some software for Apple to test its chips in its iPhone designs, one of the people told Reuters.

The two companies are locked in a multinational legal dispute over the Qualcomm`s licensing terms to Apple.

Qualcomm told Reuters it is providing fully tested chips to Apple for iPhones. &quot;We are committed to supporting Apple`s new devices consistent with our support of all others in the industry,&quot; Qualcomm said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Apple could drop Qualcomm chips Monday. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said Apple`s move is not totally unexpected.

Though Qualcomm has for several years supplied Apple`s modems - which help Apple`s phones connect to wireless data networks - Intel Corp has provided upward of half of Apple`s modem chips for iPhones in recent years, Rasgon said.

Intel in 2015 acquired a firm that would let it replace more of Qualcomm`s chips in iPhones, Rasgon said.

Rasgon said it`s too early to say definitively whether Apple fully intends to drop Qualcomm next year because Apple can likely make multiple contingency plans for different supplier scenarios.

&quot;Apple is big enough that if they want to support multiple paths, they can do that,&quot; Rasgon said. &quot;Samsung (Electronics Co) did this too. A couple of years ago, Samsung designed Qualcomm out, but Qualcomm didn`t even know until it was close to time to ship&quot; Samsung`s phones, Rasgon said.

The dispute stems from a change in supply arrangements under which Qualcomm has stopped providing some software for Apple to test its chips in its iPhone designs

Apple Inc has designed iPhones and iPads that would drop chips supplied by Qualcomm Inc, according to two people familiar with the matter. The change would affect iPhones released in the fall of 2018, but Apple could still change course before then, they said. They declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. The dispute stems from a change in supply arrangements under which Qualcomm has stopped providing some software for Apple to test its chips in its iPhone designs, one of the people told Reuters. The two companies are locked in a multinational legal dispute over the Qualcomm`s licensing terms to Apple. Qualcomm told Reuters it is providing fully tested chips to Apple for iPhones. "We are committed to supporting Apple`s new devices consistent with our support of all others in the industry," Qualcomm said in a statement. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Apple could drop Qualcomm chips Monday. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said Apple`s move is not totally unexpected. Though Qualcomm has for several years supplied Apple`s modems - which help Apple`s phones connect to wireless data networks - Intel Corp has provided upward of half of Apple`s modem chips for iPhones in recent years, Rasgon said. Intel in 2015 acquired a firm that would let it replace more of Qualcomm`s chips in iPhones, Rasgon said. Rasgon said it`s too early to say definitively whether Apple fully intends to drop Qualcomm next year because Apple can likely make multiple contingency plans for different supplier scenarios. "Apple is big enough that if they want to support multiple paths, they can do that," Rasgon said. "Samsung (Electronics Co) did this too. A couple of years ago, Samsung designed Qualcomm out, but Qualcomm didn`t even know until it was close to time to ship" Samsung`s phones, Rasgon said.

Apple could drop Qualcomm components in next years iPhones, iPads: Sources

A sleek BMW <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/following-steve-jobs-vision-apple-hires-secret-team-for-treating-diabetes-cnbc-14473">sports car once owned by visionary Apple founder Steve Jobs</a> is expected to fetch up to $400,000 at an auction in the US. 
 
Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle had apparently enthused Jobs to buy the car that was a paragon of modern automotive engineering and ergonomics, reflective of Job&#39;s own products and psyche,&nbsp;said RM Sotheby&#39;s auction house in the US. 
 
While not known to be a car enthusiast, Jobs did have a penchant for German automobiles and design, owning BMW motorcycles, as well as Mercedes-Benz SLs. 
 
The 2000 BMW Z8 convertible, which is expected to sell for up to $400,000, sports a minimalist style, finished in Titanium over a Black leather interior. 
 
The tech genius bought the car in October 2000, keeping it until 2003 before it was sold to the Los Angeles-based current owner. 
 
The Z8 has a plethora of important accessories, including its proper hardtop and hardtop stand, car cover, owner&#39;s and service manuals, service records, two keys, navigation CDs, and&nbsp;most significantly, its original BMW-branded Motorola flip-phone. 
 
&quot;Interestingly enough, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Jobs was known to have hated the Motorola phone,&quot; the auction house said. 
 
The auction will take place on December 6.

The auction will take place on December 6.

A sleek BMW sports car once owned by visionary Apple founder Steve Jobs is expected to fetch up to $400,000 at an auction in the US. Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle had apparently enthused Jobs to buy the car that was a paragon of modern automotive engineering and ergonomics, reflective of Job's own products and psyche, said RM Sotheby's auction house in the US. While not known to be a car enthusiast, Jobs did have a penchant for German automobiles and design, owning BMW motorcycles, as well as Mercedes-Benz SLs. The 2000 BMW Z8 convertible, which is expected to sell for up to $400,000, sports a minimalist style, finished in Titanium over a Black leather interior. The tech genius bought the car in October 2000, keeping it until 2003 before it was sold to the Los Angeles-based current owner. The Z8 has a plethora of important accessories, including its proper hardtop and hardtop stand, car cover, owner's and service manuals, service records, two keys, navigation CDs, and most significantly, its original BMW-branded Motorola flip-phone. "Interestingly enough, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Jobs was known to have hated the Motorola phone," the auction house said. The auction will take place on December 6.

Watch: Steve Jobs' sports car auction to set new record

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