US administration finally has some good news for tech giant Apple. It has signed a trade deal with China after under which it has exempted Apple from paying 15% import duty on iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. The hike was due to become effective from December 15 and could have added about $150 to the price of iPhones, says a Bloomberg report quoting Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. Ives said that Apple’s earnings per share could have declined by about 4% if the company had absorbed the tariffs without increasing the product prices. And in case, it had increased the price of Apple devices, demand might have shrunk by 6 to 8% in 2020. This would also mean a major setback for Apple, especially during the crucial holding shopping season. “Trump delivered an early Christmas present to Apple. If this tariff went through it would have been a major gut punch for semi players/Apple and could have thrown a major wrench into the supply chain and demand for the holiday season,” … [Read more...] about No likely price hikes for Apple iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks — for now
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The 5G iPhone coming out next year won’t get a major price increase
Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that Apple may launch four 5G-enabled iPhones next year and while 5G-related components could raise the production costs of the devices, he believes that the iPhone maker will not significantly increase the price of 5G iPhones.5G components are projected to raise the production cost of the new iPhones by anywhere from $30 to $100.Kuo states that Apple intends to offset this additional cost by reducing its supply chain expenses, including dropping its upfront non-recurring engineering payment to suppliers of the redesigned metal chassis and frame for 5G iPhone, news portal iMore reported recently.Kuo believes that Apple intends to bring this, along with other areas of external research and development, in house. As per recent report, Apple is also reportedly planning to include a custom battery protection module with the iPhone 12, which is said to be almost 50 per cent smaller and thinner than the one being used in current and old iPhones.The … [Read more...] about The 5G iPhone coming out next year won’t get a major price increase
Apple buys UK-based startup to make iPhone photography better
In a bid to further improve iPhone photography, Apple has acquired a UK-based startup Spectral Edge for an undisclosed sum.The startup is known for technology that can be used to improve photos taken on iPhones, The Verge reported, citing filings made public on Thursday.Spectral Edge “has developed computational photography tech that could blend data from a standard lens and an infrared lens to enhance photo quality”.The start-up raised $5.3 million in a funding round last year.Created in 2014 from academic research at the University of East Anglia, Spectral Edge’s algorithm is able to enhance low-light smartphone images which could improve Night Mode in iPhones.The iPhone 11 Pro has introduced a transformative triple-camera system with all-new Ultra Wide, Wide and Telephoto cameras, deeply integrated into iOS to create a pro-level camera experience designed for everyone.The triple-camera system takes Portrait mode to a new level with … [Read more...] about Apple buys UK-based startup to make iPhone photography better
Apple keeps payments tech for itself but this could soon change in Europe
Apple Inc.’s digital wallet is expanding in Europe just as regulators crack down on the tech giant’s move into financial services.At issue is Apple’s role as a platform for other services. Spotify Technology SA already complained to antitrust regulators that Apple favours its own music service. Now banks and other payments providers say the company gives its Apple Pay service an unfair advantage by limiting access to a key component inside iPhones.“Access to technical interfaces is now a key competitive factor for payment systems,” Kerstin Altendorf, a spokeswoman for the Association of German Banks, said. “The same conditions should apply to all market participants.”The arguments levelled at Apple come as lawmakers and regulators look to curb the power of Silicon Valley technology platforms, including Google and Facebook Inc.European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager has begun scrutinizing Apple Pay, and … [Read more...] about Apple keeps payments tech for itself but this could soon change in Europe
Apple accidentally leaks Apple Watch Series 5
Apple is set to unveil the 2019 series of iPhones in the second week of September this year. Rumours suggest that the US based company may also unveil its next generation Apple Watch Series 5 alongside the iPhones. In a latest, Apple has accidentally revealed information about the Apple Watch Series 5 in the latest beta of WatchOS 6. First spotted by a website called the iHelp BRM, the latest WatchOS beta confirms that Apple is developing new ceramic and titanium watch models. This set of information comes from an animation that appears during the Apple Watch setup process. It also reveals that both ceramic and titanium variants will come in 40mm and 44mm case sizes. However, the animation does not mention Apple Watch Series 5. But the fact that ceramic model was not available for the Apple Watch Series 4, it adds to speculation that the device in question could be the Apple Watch Series 5. Meanwhile, it was reported recently that Apple smart wearables that include the Apple Watch … [Read more...] about Apple accidentally leaks Apple Watch Series 5