Apple mixed-reality headset to take aim at the metaverse

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Apple on Monday is expected to show off pricy mixed-reality headgear at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, challenging Facebook-owner Meta in a market that has yet to sizzle.

The iPhone maker has remained mum on reports that it is poised to unveil a headset for augmented or virtual reality experiences at its annual jamboree for developers and app designers.

The release would be the most significant product launch by the iconic iPhone maker since it unveiled the Apple Watch in 2015.

It could also invite more tensions between Apple CEO Tim Cook and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg who have feuded over the handling of their sprawling tech empires, especially over data issues and China ties.

Expectations are high that Apple will use the WWDC stage to spotlight a "Reality Pro" headset priced around $3,000, along with custom-made software for the gear, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors.

"We believe Apple's Reality Pro will come with many apps and use cases," Ives said.

Cook is also expected to talk about the company's strategy when it comes to artificial intelligence, which has been in the spotlight since startup OpenAI released ChatGPT late last year.

The headset has been in development at Cupertino-based Apple for years, and will focus on gaming, streaming video and conferencing, as well as health and fitness, according to Ives.

It is also expected to synch closely with other Apple devices, following the company's strategy of using premium hardware to lock customers into other products and services.

"From all reports, Apple hoped to release a product that felt more like designer glasses than a gaming headset, but it's releasing something much bulkier," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Yory Wurmser.

"It wants to get its device into the hands of early adopters and developers, who will start to build a (mixed reality) ecosystem around Apple software."

A report by Bloomberg described the headset as a high-tech pair of ski googles that would project a wearer's eyes and facial expressions on an external screen.

Just days before Apple's event, Meta ramped up its line of Quest virtual reality headgear.

A new-generation Quest 3 with improved performance and slimmed design will be available later this year at a starting price of $500, Zuckerberg said.

The Facebook founder described the coming model as Meta's "most powerful headset yet" and promised it would provide the best wireless way to experience virtual reality.

Metaverse bound 

Zuckerberg has been adamant that Meta remains devoted to building for a future in which internet life plays out in virtual worlds referred to as the metaverse.

"Meta has been the dominant VR manufacturer over the past several years, thanks to its cheap Quest devices," Wurmser said.

But Meta's experience with the metaverse has been humbling despite it being a leader in the emergent sector and many questioned whether Apple would in the end jump in.

And less than two years after changing its name to Meta to reflect a metaverse priority, the Facebook giant has fired tens of thousands of staff and promised to get back to its social media basics.

Meta's false start follows the failure of Google Glass, the search engine giant's decade long effort that was mothballed for good in March.

Agence France-Presse

Apple's iPhone retakes top spot in China smartphone market: research

BEIJING - Apple reclaimed its position as the top smartphone seller in China after 6 years, clocking a record market share in the final quarter of 2021 as US sanctions hit rival Huawei, according to researchers. 

A surge in sales saw the iPhone maker account for 23 percent of the highly competitive market in October-December, industry analysis firm Counterpoint said in a report released Wednesday.

That put the US giant in pole position for the first time since the final three months of 2015, toppling China's Vivo.

Vivo and another local brand Oppo were not far behind, driven in part by their "strong offline penetration", Counterpoint said.

But smartphone sales in the country also dropped 9 percent on-year in the period.

"Apple's stellar performance was driven by a mix of its pricing strategy and gain from Huawei's premium base," said Counterpoint research analyst Mengmeng Zhang.

"Apple rose to first place in China right after the iPhone 13 was released in September," she added, noting it had a lower starting price than its rivals.

The shift comes as Chinese telecom giant Huawei was caught in the crosshairs of Beijing and Washington's trade and technology standoff. 

The United States has barred Huawei from buying crucial components such as microchips, and forced it to create its own operating system by cutting it off from using Google's Android operating system.

In December, Huawei said its annual revenue fell nearly a third from the previous year to 634 billion yuan ($99.5 billion).

China is a key market for Apple, with sales in the Greater China region -- including the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan -- surging 70 percent in the year to September.

Agence France-Presse

Apple to require employee proof of COVID-19 booster: The Verge

Apple Inc will require retail and corporate employees to provide proof of a COVID-19 booster shot, The Verge reported, citing an internal email.

Starting Jan. 24, unvaccinated employees or those who haven't submitted proof of vaccination will need negative COVID-19 tests to enter Apple workplaces, the report said. The Verge said it was not immediately clear if the testing requirement applies to both corporate and retail employees.

"Due to waning efficacy of the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines and the emergence of highly transmissible variants such as Omicron, a booster shot is now part of staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination to protect against severe disease," the memo read, according to The Verge.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Many companies in the US have been strengthening their COVID-19 rules, mandating vaccination and delaying back-to-office plans as the Omicron variant increases infections across the country.

This week, Facebook parent Meta Platforms mandated COVID-19 booster shots for all workers returning to offices. It also delayed US office reopenings to March 28, from an earlier plan of Jan. 31.

Alphabet Inc's Google on Friday said it was temporarily mandating weekly COVID-19 tests for people entering its US offices.

A report by The Information said Amazon.com Inc has offered its US warehouse workers $40 to get a booster shot.

-reuters

Apple Admits and Apologizes for Listen to Your Conversations

Apple on Wednesday apologized for its digital assistant Siri sharing some of what it heard with quality control workers as it unveiled new rules for handling data from conversations.

Under the changes, Apple will allow its employees to review conversations only from customers who opt in to the “Siri grading” program to improve the voice recognition technology.

Apple on Wednesday apologized for its digital assistant Siri sharing some of what it heard with quality control workers as it unveiled new rules for handling data from conversations.

Under the changes, Apple will allow its employees to review conversations only from customers who opt in to the “Siri grading” program to improve the voice recognition technology.


Apple will also delete by default any recordings used for the program.

“We realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that, we apologize,” Apple said in a post.

“We’ve decided to make some changes to Siri” as a result of concerns expressed about the grading program, the company added.

“Our goal with Siri, the pioneering intelligent assistant, is to provide the best experience for our customers while vigilantly protecting their privacy.”

Computer-generated transcripts will still be used to hone the ability of the software to understand what people say and mean, the company said.

Apple suspended the program after news broke that contractors were hearing confidential medical information, criminal dealings, and even sexual encounters.

The California tech giant was among several firms scrutinized using contractors to “listen” to conversations with digital assistants to improve artificial intelligence software.

If customers opt-in, only Apple employees will be allowed to listen to audio samples of Siri interactions and they will “work to delete any recording which is determined to be an inadvertent trigger” of the voice-commanded digital assistant, according to the company.

“We hope that many people will choose to help Siri get better, knowing that Apple respects their data and has strong privacy controls in place,” Apple Apology.

Google and Amazon have also announced changes to their programs in response to privacy concerns.

source: usa.inquirer.net

Apple cuts prices, ramps up services as iPhone 11 launches

CUPERTINO, United States — Apple unveiled its iPhone 11 models Tuesday with a price cut for the most basic models while also laying out plans for streaming and gaming services as it bids to weather the slump in the global smartphone market.

Price appeared to be a key consideration as the tech giant reduced the entry level price for the iPhone 11 to $699 (P36,438) and undercut rivals for its gaming and streaming television subscriptions.


Apple unveiled three versions of the iPhone 11 including “Pro” models with triple camera and other advanced features starting at $999 (P52,077) and $1,099 (P57,290), unchanged from last year’s prices, touting upgraded features including ultra-wide camera lenses.

The surprise from Apple was the reduction in the starting price at $699, down from $749 (P39,045) for the iPhone XR a year ago even as many premium devices are being priced around $1,000 (P52,130).

The new iPhones are “jam-packed with new capabilities and an incredible new design,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook told a launch event in Cupertino, California as the company set plans to sell the new handsets on September 20.

Content as ‘sweetener’

Apple’s announcements appeared to be aimed at emphasizing value as the company looks to shift its business model to reduce its dependence on smartphones and tie in digital content and other services to its devices.

“We got a stream of nonstop product launches, with content being used as a sweetener,” said Avi Greengart, analyst and consultant with Techsponential.

“I think the iPhone 11 is compelling and may convince people to upgrade earlier than they might have otherwise given the lower price and longer battery life, not just an improved camera.”

With the new devices and services, “I think there are more reasons to stay with Apple than to defect from Apple,” said Patrick Moorhead, analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Streaming and gaming

Apple TV+ service will launch November 1 in more than 100 countries at $4.99 (P260) per month and will include a “powerful and inspiring lineup of original shows, movies and documentaries.”

While Apple’s streaming service will have limited content at first, its price is below the $6.99 (P364) for the forthcoming Disney+ service and the more expensive plans from Netflix.

“Clearly Cupertino is looking for market share coming out of the gates with these surprising price points that we loudly applaud,” said Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities.

Apple is featuring scripted dramas, comedies and movies as well as children’s programs in the service, which will compete against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon.

“With Apple TV+, we are presenting all-original stories from the best, brightest and most creative minds, and we know viewers will find their new favorite show or movie on our service,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of video.

Apple said customers who purchase an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch or Mac will get the first year of the service for free.

The company’s online gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade, will launch next week, offering exclusive titles for mobile and desktop users.

The new service, which will also cost $4.99 per month, will include more than 100 game titles made for Apple devices and will be available in some 150 countries.

“You can’t find these games on any other mobile platform or subscription service. No game service ever launched as many games, and we can’t wait for you to play all of that,” product manager Ann Thai told the Apple media event.

Apple also unveiled updates to its iPad tablet and Apple Watch smartwatch, also emphasizing stable or lower prices with cuts to older versions.

“We think the lower iPhone 11 price point and trade-in program will help promote upgrades, specifically in China, while the Apple Arcade and TV+ offerings will help accelerate services growth,” CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino said in a note about Apple.

Apple shares ended the formal trading day up slightly to $216.70, while streaming television rivals Netflix and Disney both finished down about two percent.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple Releases iOS 12.2 Beta

Apple’s imminent iOS 12.2 beta 3 update was released to everyone in its public beta software program on the 20th of February 2019.

iOS 12.2 comes with subtle but distinct changes. Some of these changes include:





Hardware device model name is now listed on the “about” screen, in settings app

Date is properly displayed on the lock screen

The apple behind “Apple News” is omitted. It’s now “News” instead

Remote tile made suitable for Apple TVs and HomeKit TVs

More buttons included in Wallet application details

Auto-play of music videos in full screen is no longer available

Group Facetime is re-activated

Display of charge indicator on the lock screen, due to a particular bug, has been repaired.


Diving Deeper

At last Apple includes an update to Siri up to the third iOS 12.2 Beta. The digital assistant will adapt to your phone usage habits by suggesting “Today at Apple” sessions, based on the data garnered from the apps you use and the sites you visit.

For example, Siri suggests an art session to an Iphone user who uses design apps, or a wellness session to those interested in health and fitness. However, you can adjust Siri’s behaviour through Settings > Siri & Search > Apple Store.

Updates from past iOS 12.2 betas were also included, and will most likely make it to the last release.

In addition to the afore-mentioned updates and changes, the new release has: four animoji characters (a boar, giraffe, owl, and shark), more security options in Safari, news support for Canada in two different languages– French and English, Airplay 2, and HomeKit support for smart TVs (third-party).

Downloading Procedures for iOS 12.2 Beta 3

Members of Apple’s beta software program can download the new iOS 12.2 Beta 3 on iOS devices as an over-the-air update with the required certificate. However, you have to be a registered member before you can test the latest release.

To join the program and access the new release, click here.

source: usa.inquirer.net

iPhone Sales Are Falling, and Apple’s App Fees Might Be Next

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Last year, every time someone paid $11 for Netflix through an iPhone app, Apple pocketed as much as $3.30. Multiply that by every charge made through iPhone apps and you can see why Netflix and other companies are fed up about what they consider Apple’s unfair market power.

Late last year, Netflix rebelled against Apple’s fees, which can range from 15 percent to 30 percent. Analysts fear other companies may follow. And attorneys representing consumers in a pending Supreme Court case charge that Apple is an unfair monopolist in the market for iPhone apps. An adverse decision in that case could open a legal door that might eventually force Apple to cut its generous commissions.

That could spell more bad news for Apple, which is already reeling from a slump in iPhone sales that has knocked down its shares by 25 percent. The company has been positioning its booming digital-services business as its new profit engine. That plan could hit a snag if the app store takes a hit, since it currently generates about a third of the company’s services revenue.

Investors are now hanging onto Apple services as a “life preserver in the choppy seas” just as it’s about to float away, Macquarie Securities analyst Benjamin Schachter concluded after the Netflix move.

These app-store fees mostly hit app developers themselves, although some pass along the costs to users of their iPhone apps. Spotify, for instance, used to tack $3 onto the cost of its $10-a-month paid service — but only for users who signed up via its iPhone or iPad app.

Apple has doubled down on digital services as consumers cling to older iPhone models, hurting sales. Apple’s iPhone revenue this year is expected to drop by 15 percent from last year $141 billion, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Services, by contrast, are expected to generate about $46 billion in revenue this year, according to the same survey. Schachter estimates the app store will account for $16 billion of the services revenue. By those estimates, both services and app store revenue will have doubled in just three years.

Apple didn’t respond to the AP’s inquiries about its app fees. It has previously defended the system as reasonable compensation for reviewing all apps and ensuring its store remains a safe and secure place for e-commerce. Google charges similar fees in its own app store, although its overall business isn’t as dependent on them.

Besides the app fees, Apple’s services division includes revenue from its Apple Music streaming service, iCloud storage, Apple Care, Apple Pay and ad commissions that Google pays to be the iPhone’s built-in search engine. Apple is also expected to roll out its own streaming-video service this spring, although few details are available.

The potential streaming competition from Apple may have triggered Netflix decision’s to bar customers from paying for new video subscriptions through its iPhone app. Instead, it directs users to its website, thus avoiding the extra fees. (Netflix did likewise with Google’s app store last year.)

Netflix alone won’t put a significant dent in Apple’s finances, even though it paid Apple more money last year than any other non-gaming app, according to App Annie, a firm that tracks the app market. That sum came to about $110 million, accounting for just 0.3 percent of the services division revenue, based on disclosures made in Apple’s earnings calls last year. More than 30,000 third-party apps now accept subscriptions through Apple’s store.

Netflix declined to discuss its reasons for ending new subscriptions through the app store. But its move drew more attention to an app store tax that other technology companies have already attacked as an abuse of the power that Apple has amassed since opening its app store years ago.

Almost three years ago, Spotify also stopped accepting new subscriptions through Apple’s app store. Its move followed the debut of Apple Music, which obviously doesn’t have to pay any commissions.

“They’re trying to have their cake and eat ours, too,” Spotify spokesman Jonathan Prince told The Associated Press in 2016.

“We find it bad for consumers, unfair to consumers and ultimately something that could stifle music streaming subscriptions across the board.”

Spotify regularly harps on the unfairness of Apple’s app-fee system in its securities filings. The company didn’t respond to interview requests for this story.

Few other apps reach as many customers as Netflix and Spotify, making it unlikely that the rebellion against Apple’s app store commissions will greatly swell, said Amir Ghodrati, director of market insights for App Annie.

Apple doesn’t seem to be worried. In fact, it’s reportedly demanding an even higher commission — roughly 50 percent — for a Netflix-like news service that it is trying to create with a variety of publishers, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report based on unidentified people familiar with the negotiations.

That proposal faces resistance from The New York Times, The Washington Post and other publishers who believe Apple is trying to exploit its market power to extract excessive fees.

Most app makers, however, are too worried about losing access to the app stores to speak out against the fees. Epic Games, maker of the popular Fortnite video game, has been a notable exception.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney lashed out at app fees as a “parasitic loss ” at a video game conference 18 months ago, according to the trade publication GamesIndustry.biz. “We should be angry about this, and we should constantly be on the lookout for other solutions, and new ways to reach gamers,” Sweeney said at the time. The North Carolina company didn’t respond to interview requests.


Since then, Epic has refused to release its Fortnite app in Google’s Play store for Android phones, although it continues to offer an iPhone version. But Epic has opened its own app store for all video games built for personal computers, and only takes 12 percent of the revenue — a rate that Schachter fears Apple may eventually be pressured into adopting as well.

Sweeney broadcast a rallying cry for app maker on his Twitter account in January, not long after the news broke about Netflix abandoning Apple’s subscription system.

A 30 percent commission “completely breaks the economics of content distribution businesses like Netflix, Spotify, Kindle, and any digital stores that aim to compete,” Sweeney tweeted . “This has got to change in 2019!”

source: usa.inquirer.net

Facebook says Apple its restoring a key developer tool

NEW YORK  — Facebook says Apple is restoring a key development tool that the iPhone maker disabled Wednesday.

Late Tuesday, TechCrunch reported that Facebook paid teens and other users who agreed to download an app called Facebook Research. That app could extensively track their phone and web use. Apple said Facebook was abusing the tool , known as a developer enterprise certificate, to distribute the app in a way that allowed the social network to sidestep Apple restrictions on data collection.

By revoking the certificate, Apple closed off Facebook’s efforts to sidestep Apple’s app store and its tighter rules on privacy.

Apple did not immediately respond to a message for comment Thursday afternoon. Facebook did not say whether it agreed to any conditions for the certificate restoration.

In an internal memo sent on Wednesday, Facebook told employees it is “working closely” with Apple to reinstate access. It also told workers to install the public versions of apps from the app store. Apps that it said “may not work” included internal versions of Facebook, Workplace, Instagram and the Ride app, which helps workers with transportation. WhatsApp was not affected.

While Facebook engineers could still write code and work on the apps for iPhones and iPads during the shutoff, their ability to test them in the field was limited.

In a statement, Facebook said it is “in the process of getting our internal apps up and running.”

The company noted that the issue had no impact on its consumer services.

During the shutoff, Facebook also lost the ability to create and push out apps such as internal tools and apps to its own employees. That’s a big deal since Facebook likely publishes tools and future products to its own team to test them before it provides them to the public, said Marty Puranik, CEO and founder of cloud hosting company Atlantic.Net.

Puranik, who regularly works with developers, said the certificate revocation also meant developers lost the ability to publish their apps without vetting by Apple. Those in the program can skip Apple’s compliance and user safety checks, which leads to faster updates.

Still, the shutoff didn’t seem to debilitate Facebook’s ability to work. Its developers work on code on Facebook’s internal systems. And version 206.0 of the Facebook app for iPhones was sent out on Thursday morning, while the shutoff was still in effect.  /muf

source: technology.inquirer.net

Mac mini gets update after 3 years, and techies are impressed

On Oct. 30 at a special event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apple announced an all-new space gray Mac mini, complete with 6-core processors, five times the performance, and a memory capacity greater than ever.

This is the first time the desktop has been updated since 2014, and it’s a massive overhaul.

Quad- and 6-core eighth-generation Intel Core processors replaced the dual-core models from the previous generation, which give the device “five times faster performance” than the original.


The Turbo Boost Speeds of these processors reach up to 4.6Gz, which is double that of its predecessor, to keep your desktop running at maximum capacity even when you’re editing photo and video, developing software or compiling code. Storage has also been upped.

The updated Mac mini can support up to 64 gigabytes of 2666 megahertz memory and 2 terabytes of storage, which puts its ancestor to shame, allowing users to work efficiently and store large files with improved speed.

Like the recently-announced Macbook Air, the Mac mini houses a T2 security chip bringing “industry-leading security” to your desktop, ensuring that everything from your fingerprint information to the device’s encryption keys and your microphone are safe from intruders.


The new Mac mini is equipped with four Thunderbolt ports to output video in three different formats as well as connect the device to additional high-speed storage and more displays. To the right of these ports, you’ll find an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack. To the left, the Mac mini showcases its first ever Gigabit ethernet port which allows it to “connect to almost anything”, certainly an improvement on its predecessor.

This complete hardware overhaul is housed in an enclosure virtually identical to the previous generation. Apart from the difference in rear ports, the only visible change is the color: the new model is a few shades darker. Though both are made with aluminum, the second generation is made from 100 percent recycled materials which helps to “reduce the carbon footprint of the new Mac mini by nearly 50 [percent].”

As expected, the desktop comes with macOS Mojave, which brings a generous collection of new features to the platform. iOS apps like News and Voice Memos, as well as new apps from developers such as Microsoft and Adobe, are now available on Mac.

The new Mac mini starts at $799 (over P42,000). Pre-orders are open and it will be available in retail locations from Nov. 7. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple customers may pay price of trade tension

BEIJING — Apple Inc is likely to suffer greatly from the ongoing China-US trade tension, as experts said moving production of its iPhones from China to the United States could lead to a price rise of as much as 20 percent.

The comments came after US President Donald Trump asked the iPhone maker to relocate its plants to its home turf, in order to avoid his proposed tariff on Chinese imports.

Wamsi Mohan, an analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said in a research note that Apple may give in to Trump’s request by asking its partners to bring some iPhone assembly operations to the US, which will lead to the higher prices.

“If Apple shifts 50 per cent or 100 percent of iPhone assembly to the US, it would increase iPhone prices by 14 percent and 20 percent, respectively,” Mohan said.

Currently, most of Apple’s manufacturing operations are located in China. And in the quarter ended in June, the US tech giant posted a revenue of $9.55 billion from the country, marking a 19 percent year-on-year growth and representing 18 per cent of its total sales.

With such strong ties to China, it was inevitable that Apple would feel the pinch of the mounting trade disputes, especially after Trump said on Friday that he had tariffs planned for an additional $267 billion worth of Chinese goods. That would be on top of $50 billion of goods already hit by 25 percent duties and another $200 billion on which Washington is poised to raise tariffs.

On Monday, Apple fell 1.34 percent to $218.33 on the Nasdaq. CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil new iPhones and product updates on Wednesday.

Last week, Apple filed a letter with US officials, saying Trump’s proposed tariffs on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese goods would affect a wide range of Apple products, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, Mac Minis and Apple Pencils.

Xiang Ligang, CEO of telecoms industry website Cctime, said Apple’s dilemma highlights how US aggressive tariff policies will disrupt the global electronics industry chain.

“Apple chose to produce most of its iPhones in China, because this is the most cost-effective choice in terms of labour cost and industrial aggregation effects. That is the result of decades of market playing a decisive role in allocating resources,” Xiang said.

But the additional tariffs the US plans to levy on Chinese imports are damaging the industrial layout and in fact, would hurt US companies more than Chinese enterprises, he added.

China, as the world’s largest smartphone market, has been contributing to a big share of profits of US tech heavyweights including Apple and Qualcomm Inc in recent years.

“iPhone is the cash cow of Apple. Any increases in cost would either be passed on to customers, resulting in lower sales, or be absorbed by Apple, eroding its bottom line,” Xiang said.

On Tuesday, Chuck Robbins, chairman and CEO of Cisco, told CNBC that the US tech company might have to deal with the fallout from US-China trade tensions by passing on higher prices to its customers.

source: technology.inquirer.net

MacBook Pro keyboards may have gotten a secret upgrade

The latest MacBook Pro may be hiding a secret fix that users have been complaining about for some time now.

The 2018 version of the MacBook Pro, which will be released before the week ends, found its way onto the hand of gadget repair specialists iFixit. Before publishing their customary teardown video for new devices, their gadget experts found an interesting rubberized layer underneath the keycaps of the keyboard, according to a statement.

It was a curious find considering the Apple description of its new MacBook did not mention making any technical changes to the keyboard. They merely said it’s “an improved third-generation keyboard for quieter typing.”

On the other hand, the presence of this protective layer led iFixit to speculate that it was put there to help keep dust and other particulates from accumulating under the keys–a concern that has plagued MacBook users for a long time. This is not to mention replacing or fixing a broken keyboard is expensive.

Apple even has a patent for the very same technology behind its third-generation keyboard. Except the patent mentioned, the design was to help “prevent and/or alleviate contaminant ingress” and not to make typing quieter.

Meanwhile, the company continued to deal with several class-action lawsuits pertaining to the reliability issues of its keyboards, as mentioned in a report by 9to5Mac. If Apple described the new MacBook Pro’s keyboard as one that improves reliability, it would be the same as admitting there were problems with its past keyboards.

With the 2018 MacBook Pro just about to enter the market, only time will tell whether the third-generation keyboards will stand the test of time, and do so quietly as Apple said they would.  Alfred Bayle /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple makes splash with waterproof iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Apple on Wednesday set out to make a splash with new waterproof iPhones, a smartphone game starring Nintendo’s beloved “Mario” and a push on wireless headphones.

The iPhone 7 and larger iPhone 7 Plus, with new camera technology, improved water resistance and other features, were shown off to applause at an Apple media event in San Francisco.

The flagship devices will be sold at roughly the same price as the models they replace, starting at $649 for the iPhone 7 for US customers, with deliveries in 25 countries beginning September 16.

Revered Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto was a surprise guest at the Apple event, unveiling a new “Super Mario Run” game heading for the iPhone by the year-end holidays.

“We want as many people of all ages to be able to play Super Mario Run,” Miyamoto said.

“We plan to release it at a set price, and then you can play to your heart’s content.” The price was not disclosed.

Apple, Nintendo and game maker Niantic used the event to announce the wildly popular Pokemon Go would be available for Apple Watch users later this month.

Pokemon Go has been downloaded more than 500 million times and billions of kilometers have been walked by players since it was made available free in early July, according to Niantic Labs, which created the game.

No headphone jacks

One new iPhone feature — which may ruffle some feathers — is the removal of the headphone jack, requiring audio to be delivered via Apple’s proprietary “lightning” connector or by wireless.

Lightning connectors were designed from the outset to handle high-quality audio, Apple vice president Phil Schiller told the unveiling event, responding to concerns about the jack removal.

“It comes down to one reason: courage, the courage to move on,” Schiller said of the decision to get rid of the traditional headset port.

“Our smartphones are packed with technologies and we all want more, and it is all fighting for space in that same enclosure. Maintaining an old, single-purpose connector just doesn’t make sense.”

Apple “AirPods” wireless ear pieces and adaptors to plug old-fashioned wired headsets into Lightening ports will come with iPhone 7 models, according to Schiller.

Getting wet

The new-generation iPhones and Apple Watch boast the ability to get wet without getting ruined.

“The first Apple Watch was splash-proof, the Apple Watch Series 2 is swim-proof,” Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams said during the presentation.

The new smartphones come with Apple seeking to reverse declines in sales of the iPhone in an increasingly saturated global market, and boost its Apple Watch — in a slump since the enthusiasm of last year’s release wore off.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the new smartphones take advantage of the latest iPhone software, iOS 10.

“We are about to launch iOS 10, our biggest iOS release ever. It is jam-packed with new features,” Cook said.

“Now of course the world’s most advanced mobile operating system deserves the most advanced smartphone, and here it is.”

The iPhone 7 Plus, Apple’s version of a “phablet,” includes dual cameras to improve optical performance and photo quality, the company said.

While Apple has touted total iPhone sales of one billion, the number sold in the quarter ending June 25 fell 15 percent from a year earlier, highlighting concerns over growth for the key profit driver.

Analysts were split on whether new iPhones would help Apple regain momentum.

Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said the new phones represent “a major upgrade,” with every major subsystem improved.

“I believe Apple did enough to keep the base happy with upgrades and arguably did enough to attract some Android users. The iPhone 7 is a completely new phone,” Moorhead said.

But Neil Saunders of the research firm Conlumino said the iPhone 7 “is not radically different to the previous incarnation.” and that the new features “are unlikely to be persuasive factors in determining whether consumers upgrade or stick with what they have.”

Moving forward on watch

On the wearables front, its new Apple Watch Series 2 will also feature GPS — allowing people to gather fitness data during an outdoor workout without need to take along a smartphone.

“We started shipping Apple Watch just 18 months ago, and already people all over the world are using it in many aspects of their daily lives,” Cook said.

“But we are just getting started.”

Sales figures for the smartwatch are not disclosed by Apple, but surveys show enthusiasm has faded since last year’s release.

Apple saw a 56.7 percent year-over-year drop in sales of the device in the past quarter, research firm IDC said.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Barbra Streisand asks Apple to fix how Siri pronounces her name

Broadway singer Barbra Streisand was unhappy with how Apple’s virtual assistant is pronouncing her surname, so she called up Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, and asked him to program Siri to pronounce her name correctly.

“She pronounces my name wrong,” Babs admitted to music show NPR Weekend Edition Saturday. “Streisand with a soft S, like sand on the beach. I’ve been saying this for my whole career. And so what did I do? I called the head of Apple, Tim Cook, and he delightfully agreed to have Siri change the pronunciation of my name, finally, with the next update on Sep. 30.”

The 74-year old singer-filmmaker also said, “So let’s see if that happens because I will be thrilled.”

The topic about Siri came when the show’s host Scott Simon played a naughty game on his iPhone, Daily Mail reported.

“May I ask a question of my iPhone while you’re with us?” she asked Streisand, to which she agreed.

“Siri, who is the only female vocalist who has had hit records for six straight decades?” Simon asked the computer assistant.

“Barbra Streizzzand,” Siri replied in front of Streisand.

Streisand is on a tour for her new album “Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway” with guests such as Alec Baldwin and Anne Hathaway.  Gianna Francesca Catolico/rga

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Apple’s virtual assistant Siri also getting in on Pokémon craze

Pokémon Go has grown exponentially in popularity since its release date. And now even Apple’s own virtual assistant is getting in on the Pokémon craze.

A report from 9to5Mac says that Siri now answers the question “Do you play Pokémon Go?” with a variety of replies. However, any other phrasing will simply open the app or offer to navigate for the user to random locations.

Here are some of Siri’s Pokémon Go-related replies:

* “Of course. That’s what it’s all about. Oh, wait, that’s the hoké Pokémon.”
* “Snorlax. Zzzz. Sorry, what was the question?”
* “I like playing peekaboo with Pikacu.”
* “Confining virtual beings inside powerful devices makes me feel funny for some reason.”
* “I like pocket monsters. Pocket assistants, too.”
* “Just make sure to look both ways. And up and down, too.”

As Pokémon Go continues to be released in other countries, perhaps even Microsoft’s Cortana can have a chance to catch up with her fellow virtual assistant and offer up her own quirky replies to Pokémon-related inquiries.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple urges organ donation via new iPhone software

SAN FRANCISCO—Apple wants to encourage millions of iPhone owners to register as organ donors through a software update that will add an easy sign-up button to the health information app that comes installed on every smartphone the company makes.

CEO Tim Cook says he hopes the new software will help ease a longstanding donor shortage.

He told The Associated Press that the problem hit home when Apple co-founder Steve Jobs endured an “excruciating” wait for a liver transplant in 2009.

Apple is adding the option to enroll in a national donor registry by clicking a button within the iPhone’s Health app, which can be used manage a variety of health and fitness data.

The software will come to all U.S.-based iPhones when the company updates its mobile operating system this fall. TVJ

source: technology.inquirer.net

Alphabet overtakes Apple as world’s most valuable company

SAN FRANCISCO— Alphabet now comes before Apple atop the list of the world’s most valuable companies.

The shift occurred in Monday’s extended trading after Alphabet, Google’s new parent company, released a fourth-quarter earnings report that highlighted the robust growth of the digital ad market. Apple Inc.’s iPhone, meanwhile, is suffering its first downturn since it debuted eight years ago.

Alphabet Inc. earned $4.9 billion on revenue of $21.3 billion in the fourth quarter. If not for employee stock expenses and certain other items, Alphabet said it would have earned $8.67 per share. That figure easily topped the average estimate of $8.10 per share among analysts surveyed by FactSet.

The report provided the most detailed breakdown yet on the profits pouring in from Google’s dominant search engine and ad network. (Google reorganized itself under Alphabet last October.) Investors pushed up Alphabet stock $36.88, or nearly 5 percent, to $807.65 in extended trading.

Based on that after-hours bump, Alphabet’s market value stood at $555 billion while Apple’s was at $534 billion, based on the most recent regulatory filings showing the company’s outstanding shares. The rankings could quickly change again in regular trading Tuesday.

Apple’s stock has been sliding amid concerns over slowing iPhone sales. Meanwhile, Alphabet’s stock has surged by 45 percent since the end of 2014 when it was still trading under Google’s name.

The fourth-quarter report marks the first time Alphabet has spelled out the costs of running still-experimental businesses that are trying to do everything from eliminating human drivers to curing cancer.

Until now, Google chose to hide the expense of running those peripheral operations in its financial statement. The company’s opaque accounting made it difficult to know just how much profit Google reaped from its primary business — selling digital ads next to everything from search results to YouTube videos.

In the fourth quarter, Google produced an operating profit of $6.8 billion on revenue of $17.1 billion, after subtracting ad commissions. That translates into a whopping profit margin of 40 percent. Apple registered an operating profit margin of 32 percent in its most recent quarter.

Meanwhile, Alphabet’s other companies together produced an operating loss of $1.2 billion on revenue of just $151 million. Alphabet labels that category “other bets.” For the full year, Alphabet’s other companies lost $3.6 billion on revenue of $448 million.

The optimism surrounding Alphabet stems in part from hopes that the company is developing more financial discipline as it discloses more earnings details. Google had become known for its free-spending habits and reluctance to share information with analysts.

The change in sentiment coincided with Google’s hiring of a new chief financial officer, Ruth Porat, last May. Porat, a Wall Street veteran, has consistently signaled her intent to rein in spending.

Under the previous setup at Google, “things had always been a little muddy,” said Edward Jones analyst Josh Olson. “The hope now is that management will continue to show greater cost discipline.”

Google is also counting on advertisers to gradually pay more for marketing messages on smartphones. They still aren’t paying as much for mobile ads as on personal computers because ads on smaller smartphone screens strike many as less valuable. That’s one reason Google’s average ad rates, measured as “cost per click,” have been declining for more than four years.

In the latest quarter, Google’s cost per click fell by 13 percent from the same time in 2014. But Porat cited in increase in mobile search requests as one of biggest reasons that Google’s revenue rose by 18 percent from the previous year. As people increasingly search for information and shop on their phones, the company expects advertisers to ramp up their spending on smartphones, too.

source: business.inquirer.net