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

Eyes on Apple to join quest for the metaverse

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple fans are watching to see whether the iPhone-maker puts a culture-changing spin on virtual reality, even as rivals slow their march toward the metaverse.

All eyes are on whether Apple will commit to releasing long-rumored VR or augmented reality (AR) "goggles" at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, with programmers and software companies eager to get a jump start on providing content.

Apple chief Tim Cook fueled the speculation this week in a GQ interview, saying AR is "exciting" and that the company has a history of going its own way with innovations, even amid doubts and criticism.

"I'm not interested in putting together pieces of somebody else's stuff," he told GQ, saying that the release of the iPhone and Apple Watch both had their serious detractors.

Cook did not confirm plans for Apple eyewear, instead focusing more broadly on the promise of VR or augmented reality and defending the time it would take to release a product to market.

"Apple is going to try to put its spin on it, and then lead others to water," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said of products for augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR).

"We all know that once Apple gets into something, others follow."

APPLE MUSIC CONCERTS? 

Apple's approach to the metaverse would likely be different from that of Meta, which has proclaimed it the future of the internet but slowed its substantial investments as part of overall belt tightening.

Cook's version of AR emphasizes a world in which an Apple product could "overlay" the real one with virtual imagery to create something better.

Meta's experience with the metaverse has been humbling despite it being a leader in the emergent sector.

Gear from its Quest unit accounted for more than 80 percent of the "mixed reality" headset shipments at the end of last year, according to market-tracker Counterpoint.

But less than 18 months 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 basics.

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

"What Meta wants to do and what Apple wants to do are two different things," Milanesi said.

Meta is out to create an immersive, digital form of Facebook which relies on advertising to make money, she noted.

Apple's business model is geared to selling people premium devices and then hawk games, apps, films and more to be consumed using the hardware, the analyst said.

For example, Apple could craft virtual or augmented reality versions of its streaming television or music services that give viewers prime virtual seats to films or concerts.

Highly anticipated glasses or goggles would play to its strength while expanding its ecosystem, according to Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives.

"Apple has a golden installed 2 billion (device) users while Microsoft and Meta are swimming in enemy waters looking to go after this market opportunity," Ives said of the metaverse ambitions.

"It's a hardware play which goes into Apple's sweet spot as further penetrating its customer base."

BEWARE RUMORS

Wedbush believes Apple will unveil "Glasses" AR/VR headsets at the developers conference in June, at a price in the vicinity of $2,500, though others say $3,000.

"This comes with critics but we believe it's the right strategic move for Apple." Ives told AFP.

Analysts Avi Greengart of Techsponential and Rob Enderle of Enderle Group advised caution chasing Apple rumors.

"After Facebook lost a large amount of money doing it, it seems an odd time to launch a consumer headset," Enderle said.

"I hope Apple sees the writing on the wall; but maybe they have a train on the tracks and it is hard to stop it."

If Apple does unveil some kind of glasses or goggles, their fate may rest on what problem they solve for consumers, Greengart reasoned.

"The Metas, Googles, and Microsofts all seem to be pulling back or retrenching," Greengart told AFP.

"It remains an open question of what the future of augmented and virtual reality will be."

Agence France-Presse

Apple unveils $999 iPhone X with facial recognition

CUPERTINO, California — Apple has broken the $1,000 barrier with its latest, and most expensive, phone, the iPhone X.

With a price starting at $999 and a host of new features, the phone will be a big test for both Apple and consumers. Will people be willing to shell out really big bucks for a relatively fragile device that’s become an essential part of daily life?

On Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook called the iPhone X “the biggest leap forward” since the first iPhone. (“X” is pronounced like the number 10, not the letter X.) It loses the home button, which revolutionized smartphones when it launched; offers an edge-to-edge screen; and will use facial recognition to unlock the phone.

Apple also unveiled a new iPhone 8 and a larger 8 Plus with upgrades to cameras, displays and speakers.

Those phones, Apple said, will shoot pictures with better colors and less distortion, particularly in low-light settings. The display will adapt to ambient lighting, similar to a feature in some iPad Pro models. Speakers will be louder and offer deeper bass.

Both iPhone 8 versions will allow wireless charging, a feature already offered in many Android phones, including Samsung models. Some Android phones have also previously eliminated the home button and added edge-to-edge screens.

Apple shares were mostly flat after the announcement, down 64 cents to $160.86.

Steve Jobs homage

This was the first product event for Apple at its new spaceship-like headquarters in Cupertino, California. Before getting to the new iPhone, the company unveiled a new Apple Watch model with cellular service and an updated version of its Apple TV streaming device.

The event opened in a darkened auditorium, with only the audience’s phones gleaming like stars, along with a message that said “Welcome to Steve Jobs Theater.” A voiceover from Jobs, Apple’s co-founder who died in 2011, opened the event before CEO Tim Cook took stage.

“Not a day that goes by that we don’t think about him,” Cook said. “Memories especially come rushing back as we prepared for today and this event. It’s taken some time but we can now reflect on him with joy instead of sadness.”

The iPhone X costs twice what the original iPhone did. It sets a new price threshold for any smartphone intended to appeal to a mass market.

‘What Apple does best’

Gartner analyst Brian Blau said the iPhone X’s augmented reality features will “change the way people use apps” and give app developers new, “cool things” to do. Apple showed off a simple use for this new, sophisticated camera technology with “animoji,” which lets people animate emoji characters with their facial expressions. Showing off a new technology with something that everyday people can use and understand, he said, is “what Apple does best.”

Blau also praised the extended battery life for the phone, saying “you don’t often get that” with new smartphones.

Other analysts such as Carolina Milanesi, an analyst with Creative Strategies, don’t believe the $1,000 price tag will present much of a hurdle to Apple buyers, at least to those with means or access to installment plans. And people who won’t spend that kind of money, she added, have a choice of other products that will keep them “within Apple versus looking at the competition.”



New Watch

Apple’s latest Watch has built-in cellular service. The number on your phone will be the same as your iPhone. The Series 3 model will also have Apple Music available through cellular service. It won’t need a new plan, but will require a data add-on to your existing plan.

“Now, you can go for a run with just your watch,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer and in charge of Watch development.

Apple is also adding more fitness features to the Watch, and says it is now the most used heartrate monitor in the world. Now, Apple Watch will notify users when it detects an elevated heart rate when they don’t appear to be active. It’ll also detect abnormal heart rhythms.

The Series 3 will start at $399. One without cellular goes for $329, down from $369 for the comparable model now. The original Series 1, without GPS, sells for $249, down from $269. The new watch comes out Sept. 22.

Cellular plans for smartwatches typically cost $5 to $10 a month. AT&T says its plans are $10 a month. T-Mobile said the Watch connection will be free for the first three months and $10 a month after for unlimited talk, text and data.

Apple TV gets upgrade

A new version of the Apple TV streaming device will be able to show video at “4K” resolution — a step up from high definition — and a color-improvement technology called high-dynamic range, or HDR.

Many rival devices already offer these features. But there isn’t a lot of video in 4K and HDR yet, nor are there many TVs that can display it. Apple TV doesn’t have its own display and needs to be connected to a TV.

Apple said it’s been working with movie studios to bring titles with 4K and HDR to its iTunes store. They will be sold at the same prices as high-definition video, which tends to be a few dollars more than standard-definition versions. Apple said it’s working with Netflix and Amazon Prime to bring their 4K originals to Apple TV, too.

The new Apple TV device will cost $179 and ships on Sept. 22. A version without 4K will cost less.

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 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

Apple remains in dark on how FBI hacked iPhone without help

WASHINGTON, United States — The FBI’s announcement that it mysteriously hacked into an iPhone is a public setback for Apple Inc., as consumers suddenly discover they can’t keep their most personal information safe. Meanwhile, Apple remains in the dark about how to restore the security of its flagship product.

The government said it was able to break into an iPhone used by a gunman in a mass shooting in California, but it didn’t say how. That puzzled Apple software engineers — and outside experts — about how the FBI broke the digital locks on the phone without Apple’s help. It also complicated Apple’s job repairing flaws that jeopardize its software.

The Justice Department’s announcement that it was dropping a legal fight to compel Apple to help it access the phone also took away any obvious legal avenues Apple might have used to learn how the FBI did it.

Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym vacated her Feb. 16 order, which compelled Apple to help the FBI hack their phone, on Tuesday.

The Justice Department declined through a spokeswoman to comment Tuesday.

A few clues have emerged. A senior law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the FBI managed to defeat an Apple security feature that threatened to delete the phone’s contents if the FBI failed to enter the correct passcode combination after 10 tries. That allowed the government to repeatedly and continuously test passcodes in what’s known as a brute-force attack until the right code is entered and the phone is unlocked.

It wasn’t clear how the FBI dealt with a related Apple security feature that introduces increasing time delays between guesses. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss the technique publicly.

FBI Director James Comey has said with those features removed, the FBI could break into the phone in 26 minutes.

The FBI hacked into the iPhone used by gunman Syed Farook, who died with his wife in a gun battle with police after they killed 14 people in December in San Bernardino. The iPhone, issued to Farook by his employer, the county health department, was found in a vehicle the day after the shooting.

The FBI is reviewing information from the iPhone, and it is unclear whether anything useful can be found.

Apple said in a statement Monday that the legal case to force its cooperation “should never have been brought,” and it promised to increase the security of its products. CEO Tim Cook has said the Cupertino-based company is constantly trying to improve security for its users.

The FBI’s announcement — even without revealing precise details — that it had hacked the iPhone was at odds with the government’s firm recommendations for nearly two decades that security researchers always work cooperatively and confidentially with software manufacturers before revealing that a product might be susceptible to hackers.

The aim is to ensure that American consumers stay as safe online as possible and prevent premature disclosures that might damage a U.S. company or the economy.

As far back as 2002, the Homeland Security Department ran a working group that included leading industry technology industry executives to advise the president on how to keep confidential discoveries by independent researchers that a company’s software could be hacked until it was already fixed. Even now, the Commerce Department has been trying to fine-tune those rules. The next meeting of a conference on the subject is April 8 in Chicago and it’s unclear how the FBI’s behavior in the current case might influence the government’s fragile relationship with technology companies or researchers.

The industry’s rules are not legally binding, but the government’s top intelligence agency said in 2014 that such vulnerabilities should be reported to companies.

“When federal agencies discover a new vulnerability in commercial and open source software — a so-called ‘zero day’ vulnerability because the developers of the vulnerable software have had zero days to fix it — it is in the national interest to responsibly disclose the vulnerability rather than to hold it for an investigative or intelligence purpose,” the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement in April 2014.

The statement recommended generally divulging such flaws to manufacturers “unless there is a clear national security or law enforcement need.”

Last week a team from Johns Hopkins University said they had found a security bug in Apple’s iMessage service that would allow hackers under certain circumstances to decrypt some text messages. The team reported its findings to Apple in November and published an academic paper after Apple fixed it.

“That’s the way the research community handles the situation. And that’s appropriate,” said Susan Landau, professor of cybersecurity policy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She said it was acceptable for the government to find a way to unlock the phone but said it should reveal its method to Apple.

Mobile phones are frequently used to improve cybersecurity, for example, as a place to send a backup code to access a website or authenticate a user.

The chief technologist at the Center for Democracy and Technology, Joseph Lorenzo Hall, said keeping details secret about a flaw affecting millions of iPhone users “is exactly opposite the disclosure practices of the security research community. The FBI and Apple have a common goal here: to keep people safe and secure. This is the FBI prioritizing an investigation over the interests of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

First look: What’s inside matters in new iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO—Don’t let looks deceive you.

The new iPhones look the same as last year’s models on the outside. But changes on the inside matter, from camera improvements to new sensors that enable quicker access to tasks.

I had only about 90 minutes to try out the new Apple products unveiled Wednesday—not enough time, given that Apple Inc. has a larger iPad, a new Apple TV device and new software for the Apple Watch, alongside the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. I wasn’t able to test the new iPhone cameras in natural settings, for instance, to say whether pictures are really better with 12 megapixels, instead of 8 megapixels in the previous iPhones.

But I was able to try 3D Touch, a new way to interact with the iPhone. You save a few taps by pressing and holding on an app icon to go directly to a particular function. Microsoft’s Windows phones let you create shortcuts as home screen icons, but few people have Windows phones. On iPhones, the 3D Touch feature isn’t about enabling new functions, but getting you there quicker.

If you want to take a selfie, for instance, you currently have to launch the camera app and hit a corner button to switch to the front camera. If you were taking video before, you need to slide the camera to “Photo” first. With the new iPhones, just choose “Take Selfie” when you press down on the Camera app. The phone makes all the switches automatically.

With Maps, you can use 3D Touch to get directions home, find nearby businesses or message your location to a friend. With Mail, go directly to your inbox or create a new message. I used 3D Touch to quickly post a status update—”Hi”—on a test Facebook account.

From a message, you get a preview of a Web page by pressing on a Web link. Similarly, you get a map preview by pressing on an address. Press harder to switch to the browser or Maps app. A new iPhone software update adds a back button so you can jump right back to what you were doing, even in a different app.

As for the camera, selfie fans will appreciate having the phone’s display mimic a flash. It’s not a real flash like the main camera, but the display lights up briefly so that you can see faces in low-light settings.

With a feature called Live Photos, the iPhone camera records an extra second or so before you take still shots so that images appear in motion. You need an iPhone, iPad or Mac with the latest software to view it, though, which could limit sharing with your Android and Windows family and friends.

Those expecting revolutionary changes will be disappointed, but the new iPhones have enough new features to consider buying over an older model. Of course, wait for a full test rather than just first impressions. The new phones aren’t coming out until Sept. 25 anyway, although advance orders begin Saturday.

As for Apple’s other products:

iPad Pro (coming in November)

As someone who prefers an iPad Mini over the full-size version, I’m probably not the right customer for an even larger iPad.

But the iPad Pro does have promise for heavy-duty users, particularly if you pay $99 for a stylus and $169 for a physical keyboard cover, on top of the $799 starting price. The keyboard doesn’t feel as flimsy as ones for Microsoft’s Surface tablets, but you don’t get to change viewing angles as the Surface’s adjustable kickstands allow.

What I like most is the new stylus, known as Apple Pencil. That’s not an Apple Pen, mind you. The stylus does mimic a pencil when you try to draw on the iPad Pro’s screen. When you choose a black pencil, it comes out gray, like a real pencil. The line appears thicker when you press harder, and you can shade in areas by drawing with the Pencil lightly from an angle.

Apple TV (coming in October)

Although Apple TV’s new app store will enable non-video apps, such as games and home automation, video will remain the centerpiece.

The new remote shows a lot of promise, with a touchpad much like what’s found on laptops. You can fast forward through commercials more quickly, or even hit the microphone button and tell the Siri voice assistant to “fast forward five minutes.” And when you encounter dialogue that’s mumbled, just say, “What did she say?” Siri will rewind 15 seconds and temporarily turn on closed captioning.

New software (coming next Wednesday)

I’ve been using a preliminary, “beta” version of the new iPhone and iPad software, iOS 9, for more than a month. I particularly like that you can get transit directions on Apple Maps and scroll through photos more quickly. The font is bolder and easier to read. The update isn’t as huge as what you got in previous years, but I’m not complaining when it’s free.

Likewise, the Apple Watch’s software update will enable new types of third-party apps. It should address many of the watch’s current limitations, but it’ll take time to try out.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple bows to Taylor Swift on streaming payments

NEW YORK — Tech giant Apple late Sunday bowed to pressure from pop superstar Taylor Swift and raised payments to artists for its forthcoming music streaming service.

The about-face by one of the world’s most powerful companies showed the extraordinary influence of the 25-year-old Swift, who had vowed a partial boycott of the new Apple Music service.

Swift, saying that she was speaking up for artists afraid of upsetting Apple, had called the company’s behavior “shocking” over its earlier plan not to pay for streams during customers’ initial three-month free trial.


Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services, said late Sunday that the company had shifted course and would compensate for streams in all stages.

Apple music “will pay artist(s) for streaming, even during (customers’) free trial period,” he wrote on Twitter.

Mimicking Swift’s earlier protest, Cue wrote, “We love you (Taylor) and indie artists. Love, Apple.”

Cue separately told industry journal Billboard that he telephoned Swift, who is in Amsterdam on her tour, after receiving approval from Apple CEO Tim Cook.

He insisted that Apple never intended to avoid compensation and had heard plenty of concern from others besides Swift, although he was moved to action after she went public.

Tough streaming competition

Apple, which revolutionized the music industry through digital downloads with iTunes, on June 30 launches its new streaming platform as customers quickly shift to such on-demand, unlimited Internet catalogs.

Swift has been an outspoken critic of streaming leader Spotify, last year pulling her entire catalog as she charged that the Swedish company compensates artists too little.

Swift early Sunday said that she would refuse to allow her latest album “1989” — by far the best-selling US album in the past year — to stream on Apple Music due to the lack of payment during the trial.

“I find it to be shocking, disappointing and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company,” Swift wrote in a posting on Tumblr.

“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much,” Swift wrote.

Swift said that her move was in part “about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt.”

After Apple’s reversal, Swift wrote on Twitter: “I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.”

Apple has not gone public with details on the payout structure, but is known to have been involved in intense negotiations with major record labels.

Prosecutors in New York and the neighboring state of Connecticut have started an initial probe on whether major labels are colluding with Apple to stop licensing content to rivals.

Swift, a young country star turned pop sensation, is signed to an independent label, Big Machine Records, allowing her greater leeway in determining her marketing.

Spotify has been especially controversial with artists as it offers a free tier, even beyond a trial period, for customers who are not bothered by advertisements.

Spotify says that it nonetheless pays back artists and has given out $3 billion in royalties since the Swedish company’s launch in 2008.

Apple plans to charge $9.99 a month after the three-month trial.

Other rivals in streaming include Deezer, Rhapsody, Rdio, Google Play and Tidal, which is spearheaded by rap mogul Jay-Z with a professed mission to support artists.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple Event Live: Tim Cook takes stage, cuts Apple TV price

SAN FRANCISCO—CEO Tim Cook has taken the stage at Apple’s event Monday morning in San Francisco.

Cook is expected to unveil the company’s newest device, the smartwatch, and make the case for why it’s a must-have gadget. Apple teased the smartwatch in September but has given few details. Scheduled to hit the market in April, industry watchers are eager to see if Apple’s version will be the tipping point for the sluggish smartwatch market. There was similar skepticism when Apple released the iPad in 2010, yet the company has successfully sold millions and its popularity has shaken up the PC market.

The stakes are high for a company that just dislodged AT&T as one of the 30 stocks comprising the venerable Dow Jones industrial average. The watch is the first brand-new device Apple has launched without Steve Jobs.

Below is a live blog of the event. All times PDT.

10:12 a.m.

Cook announces a price cut for Apple TV to $69, from $99. He says 25 million units have been sold so far.

The availability of HBO as a stand-alone service comes as more people turn to the Internet to watch television. HBO previously was available on Apple devices, but only with a cable or satellite subscription.

10:10 a.m.

Cook shows a trailer from the upcoming season of “Game of Thrones.”

10:05 a.m.

Cook walks on stage to talk about Apple’s retail stores and offer an update on Apple TV. He’s joined by HBO CEO Richard Plepler to announce that Apple will be the exclusive partner of HBO’s upcoming stand-alone subscription service, HBO Now.

There will be a new HBO Now channel on Apple TV. It will be possible to get it on iPhones and iPads, too. The service will cost $14.99 and will be available in early April — in time for the season premiere of “Game of Thrones.”

10 a.m.

The event begins with a video of an Apple store in West Lake, China. Customers holding Apple products cheer as employees count down to the opening of the store in January.

9:55 a.m.

Journalists, industry analysts and Apple guests fill the auditorium of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for the start of the event.–Anick Jesdanun

source: technology.inquirer.net

Mystery Apple event planned for March 9, likely on Watch

NEW YORK–Apple sent invitations Thursday (US time) for a mystery event due to take place March 9, amid speculation about an imminent launch of its much anticipated Apple Watch.

The invitation simply said “Spring Forward,” referring to the fact that clocks will spring forward one hour in the United States the day before for daylight savings time.

Apple said the event would take place at 10:00 am (1900 GMT) in San Francisco.

The company has said that its smartwatch wearable devices, unveiled last year to much fanfare, were on track to begin shipping in April.

It will mark Apple’s first new product type since the iPad in 2010.

Apple has previously indicated that the entry price would be $349 in the United States, and that two different sizes would be available in three collections, including the “Apple Watch Edition,” featuring 18-karat gold cases in yellow or rose, sapphire crystal and finely crafted bands and closures.

Experts see great growth potential in wearable electronics like the Apple Watch, which could help increase the popularity of such devices.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple CEO Tim Cook says Apple Pay a success

LAGUNA BEACH, California— Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple’s new mobile payment system had over 1 million activations in the first three days after it became available, and is now more widely used than any competing payment system.

“We’re already No. 1. We’re more than the total of the other guys,” Cook boasted Monday during a tech industry conference, “and we’ve only been at it a week.” He said Visa and MasterCard officials have told Apple that the Apple Pay system is already seeing more use than similar “contactless” methods of paying for purchases.

While Apple has partnered with major banks and large retail chains including Macy’s Inc., Walgreen Co. and McDonald’s Corp., critics have noted that it’s not accepted by a number of other large chains. Among them are the drugstore chains CVS Caremark Corp. and Rite Aid Corp., which belong to a retail coalition working on a rival system.

Cook also said he plans to talk with Jack Ma, executive chairman of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, later this week about a possible partnership, although he offered no details. Ma told the same audience earlier Monday that he would be “very interested” in teaming with Apple to bring Apple Pay to China.

Ma and Cook spoke during separate appearances on an outdoor stage on the opening night of a three-day tech conference organized by The Wall Street Journal.

Responding to questions, Cook also said he expects Apple’s iPhone will continue to be the company’s biggest-selling product, contributing the majority of Apple’s revenue and profit, for the next few years. But he boasted that sales of Apple’s Mac computers are growing faster than the overall personal computer industry, which has struggled in recent years.

He also touted the upcoming release of an Apple smartwatch and dropped broad hints about Apple’s work on a new television product, which has been rumored for years.

Today’s televisions haven’t advanced much technologically in the last 30 years, Cook said. “So I think there’s a lot to be done here.”

Cook didn’t offer specifics, but he said, “It’s an area where I’m optimistic that there is something great that can be done in the space.”

Apple started operating its new digital payments service last week, offering it only in the United States to start, and only for users of its newest models of iPhones and iPads. The company has touted the privacy and security features of its service, which uses a sophisticated encryption system to let users charge purchases on credit card accounts without having to show their card or account number.

Repeating a favorite dig at competitors such as Google and Facebook, Cook said Apple doesn’t collect user data or purchase information. “We don’t want to know what you buy. We’re not Big Brother; we’ll leave that to other people.”

Speaking earlier, Ma said he is looking for a variety of US partners for Alibaba Group, the Chinese firm that held a record stock market debut on Wall Street earlier this year. Ma said he is visiting Hollywood film studios this week to discuss potential deals, because “China will be the largest movie market in the world” in the next 10 or 15 years.

Alibaba operates several Internet services, including retail sites, online payments and streaming video. Ma said Alibaba is also helping US food producers, including cherry farmers from Washington state and fishermen from Alaska, sell their harvests in China.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple locks itself out of devices with passwords

SAN FRANCISCO—Apple has tightened its technological security so not even the company can pry into a password-protected iPhone or iPad, a move meant to reassure the millions of people who are increasingly storing vital pieces of their lives on the devices.

The additional safeguard is part of Apple’s latest mobile software, iOS 8, which the Cupertino, California, company released Wednesday. Apple Inc. revealed the stronger protection in a new section of its website that is prefaced with a letter from CEO Tim Cook who emphasized the company’s “fundamental” commitment to privacy and security.

“Our commitment to protecting your privacy comes from a deep respect for our customers,” Cook wrote. “We know that your trust doesn’t come easy. That’s why we have and always will work as hard as we can to earn and keep it.”

Apple is highlighting its heightened security following a mortifying episode that unfolded earlier this month after computer hackers broke into the online accounts of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and other celebrities who stored copies of personal photos on the company’s iCloud service.

Nude photos of Lawrence and other female stars were posted on various websites, causing some security experts to question whether Apple had taken adequate precautions to thwart hackers trying to break into user accounts.

Since the nude photos appeared, Apple has been stressing the need for its users to rely on passwords that are difficult to guess. It has also recommended the adoption of a security feature known as two-step verification that requires a special code sent to mobile phones to be entered along with a password to log into accounts.

Apple’s inability to unlock password-protected smartphones and tablets could frustrate law enforcement officials who sometimes obtain court orders to vacuum personal data off the phones for potential evidence in criminal investigations.

The personal information will be blocked on more than just Apple’s newest mobile devices, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, that go on sale Friday. That’s because Apple is giving away iOS 8 to anyone with devices dating back to 2011. The software can be downloaded to devices as old as the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2. That covers hundreds of millions of devices already in use.

The number of legal requests that Apple gets for personal data off devices is relatively small. Apple provided some data in nearly 6,500 of the roughly 9,600 requests that law enforcement agencies around the world submitted for devices during the first half of this year, according to the company’s own accounting. Apple says the requests came in most cases after a device was stolen.

Like other technology companies, Apple is trying to depict itself as a trustworthy steward of people’s information after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked documents revealing government spies’ efforts to snoop on emails and other personal information as part of an effort to identify potential terrorists.

Apple, like its peers, has lashed out at the U.S. government’s digital surveillance programs and stressed that it isn’t cooperating with any of the spying.

Cook is seeking to draw an even bigger distinction between Apple and other prominent technology companies such as Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. that offer free online services financed by ads that are based on the personal preference expressed in emails that are scanned, search requests that are tracked and social media posts that are analyzed.

Apple doesn’t need to resort to those tactics, Cook said, because the company makes its money from the devices and services that it sells.

“A few years ago, users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you’re not the customer,” Cook wrote in his letter. “You’re the product. But at Apple, we believe a great customer experience shouldn’t come at the expense of your privacy.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple Watch straps computing to the wrist

SAN FRANCISCO–Apple strapped computing to the wrist Tuesday with Apple Watch.

“Apple Watch is the most personal device we have ever created,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook said, while announcing the hotly anticipated move into wearable computing.

The watch comes in two sizes and an array of choices of interchangeable, fashionable wrist straps.

Cook introduced Apple Watch with the “one more thing” introduction that was a trademark of iconic Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

“It is the next chapter in Apple’s story,” Cook said of the first new product category to be entered by the company since the death of Jobs in 2011.

“We invented intimate ways to connect and communicate directly from your wrist; it works seamlessly with iPhone and it is also a comprehensive health and fitness device.”

Apple watch will start at $349 when it is released early next year, according to Cook. The smartwatch will work with iPhone 5 models and newer.

Apple has been working on Watch for a long time, and didn’t just shrink the iPhone and strap it to the wrist, Cook told a rapt audience in a performing arts center in Silicon Valley where Jobs introduced the Macintosh computer 30 years ago.

While Apple Watch has touch-screen capabilities, many controls were designed into a “digital crown” button so fingers do not block screens.

Sensors can detect a wearer’s pulse, and the devices tap into motion sensing features in iPhones to provide a “comprehensive picture of activity” and help work toward fitness goals, according to Apple senior vice president of design Jonathan Ive.

Applications for the watch include map software that guides people to destinations with gentle “taps” on the wrist.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple unveils revamped iPads to beat back rivals

SAN FRANCISCO—Apple revved up its iPad line on Tuesday as it moved to fend off rivals which have eroded its dominance in the sizzling tablet market.

A slimmer version of its top-selling full-size tablet computer, dubbed the “iPad Air,” was announced along with a revamped iPad Mini with an improved high-definition display.

Apple shares fell as investors reacted to a lack of fresh products, but some analysts remained upbeat after the US tech giant unveiled upgrades to its tablets, notebooks and desktop computers along with free software to sweeten the deal.

“I think it is going to be a really strong holiday for Apple,” Gartner analyst Van Baker said after spending some hands-on time with the California company’s newest devices.

“The highlight of the day is the breadth of Apple’s announcement; this is apps, tablets, MacBooks, Mac Pro, software… It is very wide-ranging.”

The new iPad Air is 43 percent thinner than the version it replaces, weighs just one pound (450 grams), and is “screaming fast,” Apple vice president Phil Schiller said at the unveiling in San Francisco.

The upgraded iPad Mini has a high-definition “retina” display along with faster computing power and graphics.

Both new iPads feature the Apple-designed A7 chip with 64-bit “desktop-class architecture,” Apple said.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said he was not troubled by competition in the tablet space.

“Everybody seems to be making a tablet,” he told the audience. “Even some of the doubters are making them.”

But he said that notwithstanding sales figures, “iPad is used more than any of the rest, and not just a little more, a lot more.”

The iPad “is used over four times more than all of those other tablets put together, and this is what is important to us. People use it, and what is even more important to us, is people love it,” he said.

The two new iPads will be sold alongside the existing versions, starting Nov. 1 in more than 40 markets around the world.

The iPad Air will start at $499 and the new Mini version at $399 for US customers. Apple will cut the prices of the older iPad versions.

Apple announced upgrades for its MacBook line of notebooks and Mac Pro desktop computer, and announced its new operating system called Mavericks would be available as a free upgrade for those with existing Apple computers.

Strategic shift

In a strategic shift, Apple announced that iWork and iLife software suites for tasks from video editing to mixing music and making business presentations would be free for its mobile devices.

Baker said this is a smart move that can drive sales of hardware.

Like Google does with its online array of Docs applications, Apple will be making available for free productivity software that Microsoft sells to users of Windows-powered computers.

The new iPads come on the same day Microsoft began selling an upgraded version of its Surface tablet, and as Nokia unveiled its own tablet computer.

Industry tracker Gartner on Monday forecast that global tablet shipments will reach 184 million units this year—a 53.4 percent rise from last year.

The iPad remains the largest-selling tablet, according to surveys, but its market share is being eroded by rivals using the Google Android operating system.

Apple is also under pressure to adapt to the popularity of premium tablets with high-quality screens in the seven- to eight-inch (18- to 20-centimeter) range where the Mini competes.

Jan Dawson, analyst at the research firm Ovum, said Apple’s latest “represents a good enough boost to the previous version to trigger good upgrade sales and get iPad shipments growing again, which was a key objective for this launch.”

But Dawson said Apple is raising the price for the new Mini, unlike competitors: “It seems as though Apple is trying to push average selling prices for iPads back up again after they’ve dropped steadily over the past year… This is the clearest statement Apple could have made that it is only interested in competing in the premium tablet space.”

This means Apple’s share in tablets will continue to fall as Android’s share rises over the coming years, Dawson said.

Apple shares fell 1.5 percent to end at $519.87.

Thomas Husson at Forrester Research Apple offered no new breakthroughs but that this should not be expected.

“Yes, at some point, the company will need to disrupt a new market once again, but today’s announcement is really about making sure it maintains the premium brand experience for the holiday season when competition is heating up—not just for tablets but also for the amazing new line of Mac products,” Husson said.—Glenn Chapman

source: technology.inquirer.net

US stocks rise; Apple falls after launching 2 iPhones

NEW YORK CITY—US stocks rose Tuesday on better Chinese economic data and easing concerns about Syria, despite a fall in Apple shares following the launch of two new iPhones.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 127.94 (0.85 percent) to 15,191.06.

The broad-based S&P 500 increased 12.28 (0.73 percent) to 1,683.99, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index put on 22.84 (0.62 percent) at 3,729.02.

Technology icon Apple, the largest US company by market capitalization, suffered one of the biggest declines among large companies, falling 2.3 percent after chief executive Tim Cook and other top officials unveiled two new iPhones.

Apple fielded a top-line iPhone 5S and a lower-cost iPhone 5C aimed at competing with rival low-cost smartphones, most of which use Google’s Android operating system.

Some analysts expressed disappointment with the launch. Bank of America said the smartphones would have difficulty competing in the lower-end market “unless Apple is willing to give up subsidy/margin, which it doesn’t typically do.”

Meanwhile, the broader market surged to a second straight day of solid gains.

China’s industrial production rose in August at its fastest rate in 17 months, according to official data providing further evidence of a pick-up in the world’s second-largest economy.

Tuesday’s gains came as investors continued to hope that a proposal by Russia to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control could avert a US military strike.

The operator of the Dow index, S&P Dow Jones Indices, announced it would drop Alcoa, Bank of America and Hewlett-Packard from the 30-stock blue-chip index on September 23, replacing them with Goldman Sachs, Nike and Visa.

The Dow cited the low stock values of the companies that were dropped and a “desire to diversify the sector and industry group representation of the index.”

Goldman Sachs rose 3.5 percent, Nike jumped 2.2 percent and Visa increased 3.4 percent. Alcoa slipped 0.3 percent, Bank of America gained 0.9 percent and Hewlett-Packard fell 0.4 percent.

Video streaming service Netflix surged 6.4 percent following a deal with British cable operator Virgin Media to make the service available to subscribers. A Citi note said the news marked the first time Netflix has been integrated into a pay-TV offering.

Apparel maker PVH, which owns the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands, dropped 5.6 percent after a full-year earnings forecast came in at $7 per share, below the $7.14 seen by analysts.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 2.96 percent from 2.90 percent Monday, while the 30-year increased to 3.89 percent from 3.84 percent. Prices and yields move inversely.

source: business.inquirer.net

Judge finds Apple guilty in ebooks conspiracy

NEW YORK CITY — A judge Wednesday found Apple guilty of a price-fixing conspiracy for electronic books, saying the company “conspired to restrain trade” with publishers to boost the price of ebooks.

Judge Denise Cote, who presided over a bench trial in New York, said in her opinion that “Apple is liable here for facilitating and encouraging the Publisher Defendants’ collective, illegal restraint of trade.” She ordered a new hearing to determine damages.

Each of the five publishers originally named in the US government’s civil lawsuit settled the case, leaving Apple to stand trial alone.

Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook had said ahead of the trial that the California firm would not settle, claiming it had done nothing wrong but was merely pursuing normal business practices.

The trial focused on a six-week period in late 2009 and early 2010 during which Apple negotiated contracts with publishers ahead of its iPad launch and proposed a new and more profitable business model.

At the time, publishers were furious at the state of the market dominated by Amazon, which sold most bestsellers for just $9.99.

Amazon held “wholesale” contracts with publishers in which it set prices. Apple’s contracts shifted to an “agency” model where publishers set the price in exchange for a 30 percent commission to Apple.

Prior to Apple’s entry, the publishers — all of whom have settled in the case — would complain about Amazon’s $9.99 price at private dinners in fancy New York restaurants, but each feared taking on the Internet giant alone.

Among the publishers settling the case, the largest was with Penguin for $75 million, while a settlement with Hachette, Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster created a $69 million fund for refunds to consumers. Macmillan settled for $26 million.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple unveils new iPad, Apple TV box

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple unveiled a third-generation iPad on Wednesday enhanced with features aimed at keeping it on top of the booming tablet computer market.

The new iPad will go on sale March 16 in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A week later, it will go on sale in 25 more countries.

The new iPad boasts a more powerful processor, eye-grabbing resolution on par with that of an iPhone 4S, and the ability to connect to the latest 4G LTE telecom networks that move data faster than their predecessors.

“We think that iPad is the poster child of the post-PC world,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook said, noting that iPad sales topped those of any personal computer maker during the final three months of last year.

“We have redefined once again the category Apple created just two years ago with the original iPad,” Cook said at a press event in San Francisco, the first major product release by Apple since the death of founder Steve Jobs.

The new iPad will be priced the same as the previous models, which start at $499 for the most basic iPad featuring wireless connectivity only.

An iPad with 16 gigabytes of memory and with both Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity will cost $629 in the United States while a 32GB Wi-Fi/4G model will cost $729 and a 64GB version with Wi-Fi and 4G will cost $829.

In a bid to cater to budget-minded shoppers, Apple will sell a 16GB version of the iPad 2 at a trimmed price of $399.

The new iPad screen was billed as the best display ever on a mobile device. The tablet also features a five-megapixel camera and high-definition video recording.

Apple said the latest model has the same 10-hour battery life as its predecessor, with the span cut by about an hour with constant use of high-performing 4G telecom networks.

The third-generation iPad weighs 1.4 pounds and is 9.4 mm thick, slightly heavier and slightly thicker than the previous model.

Apple showed off an enhanced suite of iPad applications for tasks ranging from movie editing to making music or managing one’s life.

A new iPhoto application turns the iPad into a slick tool for editing pictures with simple touches or automated features.

Epic Games president Mike Capps joined Cook to show off a version of the Infinity Blade video game for the iPad, contending the quality was comparable to video game console play.

“It is an evolutionary upgrade with a lot of revolutionary features,” said Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg. “It is going to put a lot more pressure than before on iPad competitors.

“The updates to GarageBand, iMovie, and the new iPhoto will drive this going forward,” Gartenberg said.

“At the end of the day, it isn’t going to be Tim Cook that sells the iPad, it is going to be the iPad that sells the iPad; and they are going to sell a lot of them,” he said.

Apple’s App Store has more than 200,000 mini-programs, or “apps,” tailored for the iPad with offerings including books, games, and software designed for getting work done.

Apple has dominated the tablet market since launching the iPad two years ago and few expect that to change anytime soon.

IMS Research predicted that Apple would increase its tablet market share to 70% in 2012 from 62% in 2011 and it will ship 70 million iPads this year, up 71% over the previous year.

“Apple’s insistence on blending hardware innovation with services innovation will keep the iPad at the front of the tablet pack for the foreseeable future,” said Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps.

Apple real-world stores will be “critical” since the high-resolution screen is the major improvement in the iPad, and it needs to be seen to be fully appreciated, according to Gartner analyst Van Baker.

“It is astoundingly beautiful, but people are going to have to get it in their hands to see this,” Baker said.

A new dictation-taking feature could be a stumbling point for the iPad, since that type of technology has proven to be a bane to other companies, according to independent analyst Rob Enderle of Silicon Valley.

The California-based gadget-maker on Wednesday also released an updated Apple TV box used to stream movies, television shows and other content from the Internet to high-definition TV sets.

The new box features a streamlined new user interface and will sell for the same $99 price as the previous model.

Apple TV was synched with iCloud, on online content storage service that lets people buy films or television shows on the box but have the options of watching them on iPhones, iPads, iPod touch devices, or on computers.

Apple released the first version of Apple TV in 2007 but it has never really caught on with the public.

The iPad event was the second Apple product launch by Cook since he took over for Jobs, and both events showcased improved versions of products.

“Let’s wait and see if Apple can bring an astounding new class of product to market,” Baker said. “Ultimately, they need to do that.”

Investors appeared unsurprised by Apple’s announcements, with the company’s stock price inching up slightly to $531.05 a share in trading on the NASDAQ.

article source: japantoday.com