Tag: apple

Fortnite Will Return to iOS in Europe as Apple Plans to Allow Third-Party App Stores on iPhone

Fortnite will be making a return to iOS in Europe, Epic Games announced on January 25. The development occurred as Apple is now forced to open iOS to sideloaded apps and third-party app stores to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and is chasing a deadline of March 7. Reportedly, Apple is already working on making changes to its App Store and will likely make a separate version available in Europe. Epic Games could be one of the many app stores that become available in the region, and iPhone users may finally get to play Fortnite after waiting for four years.

In a post, the official handle of Epic Games Store revealed that Fortnite will make a comeback to iOS in Europe this year. It also added that the popular battle royale game will be added via the Epic Games Store for iOS. The post did not mention a launch date.

In a separate post, the company said, “Stay tuned for details as we figure out the regulatory timeline. We’ll continue to argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law.”

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney also spoke against how Apple implements the DMA regulations, calling it a “malicious compliance.” In a long post, he said the Cupertino-based tech giant is forcing third-party app stores to accept “junk fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments they don’t process.”

Separately, he also said that a monopoly should not be allowed to decide what companies are allowed to compete with it after another user shared a list of agreements Apple sought from third-party app stores before allowing them on iOS.

Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 after the iPhone maker banned Epic for encouraging users to make third-party in-app payments. Subsequently, Epic Games filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. Just last week, the US Supreme Court denied the request to hear the dispute, resulting in a win for the tech giant.

The concern for Epic Games comes from its previous issues with the company, and with Apple still holding oversight into third-party apps, the possibility of the Fortnite-maker getting banned again still exists.

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AI Investments Help Microsoft Reach $3 Trillion Market Value, Second to Apple

Microsoft’s stock market value crossed the $3 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,49,35,925 crore) milestone for the first time on Wednesday, retaining its place as the world’s second most valuable company, just behind Apple.

Microsoft and Apple shares have been vying for the top spot as the most capitalized stock on Wall Street since the start of the year, with the iPhone maker briefly losing its crown to the software giant earlier in January.

Shares of Microsoft hit a record high of $405.63, up 1.7 percent, enabling it to breach the $3 trillion market capitalization level. But it later closed at $402.56, valuing Microsoft at $2.99 trillion, just below the threshold price of $403.65 that would have kept it above $3 trillion.

Apple’s shares pared earlier gains and closed down 0.35 percent at $194.50, giving it a market value of $3 trillion, according to LSEG data.

Backed by its investment in ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft is widely seen as a frontrunner in the race for market dominance in the rollout of generative artificial intelligence (AI) among other tech heavyweights, including Google owner Alphabet, Amazon.com, Oracle, and Facebook owner Meta Platforms.

Using OpenAI’s technology, Microsoft has rolled out newer versions of its flagship productivity software products as well as its Bing search engine, which is expected to better compete with Google’s dominant search offering.

Apple, on the other hand, is facing slowing demand for its iPhones, particularly in China, where the company is offering customers rare discounts to boost sales amid stiff competition from homegrown rivals such as Huawei Technologies.

“I think it’s AI optimism for Microsoft,” said Stifel analyst Brad Reback, adding that Apple doesn’t seem to have the same “clear AI story” coupled with concerns about iPhone sales growth rates and penetration.

The 54 analysts covering Microsoft’s stock have a median price target of $425, up from $415 a month ago, and their average recommendation is “buy”, according to LSEG data.

Buoyed by AI optimism, Microsoft shares gained nearly 57 percent in 2023 and are up 7 percent this year. Apple’s stock rose by 48 percent last year and is up about 1 percent year-to-date.

Wall Street’s run-up to record highs will be put to the test in the coming weeks as megacap US technology-related companies begin reporting results.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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iPhone Shipments in China Drop 2 Percent in Q4 as Apple Battles Huawei for Market Share

Apple’s smartphone shipments in China shrank 2.1 percent in the final quarter of 2023 from the same year-ago period, hurt by intensifying competition from local rivals led by Huawei, data from research firm IDC showed on Thursday.

The drop underscores the challenges facing the US firm in its third biggest market, as some Chinese companies and government agencies limit employees’ use of Apple devices, a measure that mirrors US government restrictions on Chinese apps on security grounds.

Huawei, whose smartphone business was decimated by US sanctions, also made a comeback last year with new launches, intensifying competition in the world’s biggest smartphone market that grew just 1.2 percent in the final quarter of 2023.

Huawei’s shipments increased 36.2 percent in the last quarter of the year, the IDC figures showed. The company became the fourth largest smartphone vendor in China in the period with a 13.9 percent market share, up from 10.3 percent in the same year-ago quarter.

For the full year 2023, however, Apple overtook Vivo to become the top smartphone seller with a 17.3 percent market share, according to IDC. This marks the first time Apple became the top seller in China, but analysts predict its sales will come under pressure again this year.

IDC said Apple’s high-end market share in China has been impacted by rival products and limited product upgrades by Apple which reduced the overall attractiveness of iPhone models.

It said Apple still attracted demand from many consumers through substantial discounts and promotions carried out through third-party distribution channels.

Earlier this month, Apple offered rare discounts on its iPhones, cutting retail prices by as much as CNY 500 ($70 or roughly Rs. 5,800) amid growing competitive pressure.

Jefferies analysts predicted earlier this month that Apple’s shipment volumes would continue declining by double digits in 2024, while Huawei is seen bolstering its market share.

They estimate Huawei will ship around 64 million smartphones worldwide in 2024, a significant rise from fewer than 35 million units projected for 2023.

Overall, shipment volume in China’s smartphone market was 73.63 million units in the fourth quarter. For the full year, shipment volume was 271 million units, down 5 percent, IDC said.

Apple releases its quarterly results next week.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company’s latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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iPhone 16 Pro Max to Feature Larger, Improved Primary Camera Sensor, Tipster Claims

iPhone 16 Pro Max — Apple’s purported successor to the iPhone 15 Pro Max that was launched last year — could arrive with more powerful camera capabilities in the coming months, according to details shared by a tipster. The company’s top-of-the-line iPhone model is said to be equipped with an improved 48-megapixel primary camera sensor that is larger than the one used on the current (iPhone 15 Pro Max) and previous generation (iPhone 14 Pro Max) models, offering more advanced camera capabilities.

Tipster Digital Chat Station leaked details of the iPhone 16 Pro Max camera via a Weibo post (in Chinese) on Wednesday. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with a 48-megapixel Sony IMX903 camera sensor with a customised design. It will feature a 14-bit analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) and a digital gain control (DGC) for improved camera performance, according to the tipster.

Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Weibo

 

Apple equipped the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max models with a 1/1.28-inch primary camera sensor, but this year’s top-of-the-line model could sport a new, larger 1/1.14-inch sensor. This means that the company’s purported flagship iPhone model for 2024 could capture better images in low light scenarios, while offering better dynamic range and bokeh capabilities.

Earlier this month, TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the iPhone 16 Pro models would be equipped with an upgraded ultra-wide-angle camera, while the tetraprism telephoto camera setup from the iPhone 15 Pro Max will make its way to the smaller iPhone 16 Pro model later this year.

Based on these claims, it appears that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will both feature two upgraded cameras. Meanwhile, Apple’s 2025 models — expected to debut as the iPhone 17 series — will be equipped with an upgraded selfie camera, from a 12-megapixel camera with a 5P lens to a 24-megapixel camera with a 6P lens, according to Kuo.

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Spotify to Allow In-App Purchases for Subscriptions, Audiobooks on iPhone in Europe After March DMA Deadline

Spotify users in Europe from March will be able to buy audiobooks and subscription plans from within the music-streaming app as a result of the region’s new competition law for Big Tech, the Swedish company said on Wednesday.

The move will help the company avoid Apple’s 30 percent fee for purchases through its App Store, which has long been a source of contention between app developers and the tech giant.

Spotify has for years been in embroiled in a legal battle, alleging that it was forced to raise the price of its monthly subscriptions to cover costs tied to Apple’s App Store rules.

“For years Apple had these rules where we couldn’t tell you about offers, how much something costs, or even where or how to buy it,” Spotify said in a blogpost.

“The DMA (Digital Markets Act) means that we’ll finally be able to share details about deals, promotions, and better-value payment options in the EU.”

Under the DMA, which all Big Tech firms must comply with by March 7, companies are obligated to treat their own products and services like they do rivals’.

Apple plans to challenge the European Union’s decision to put all of App Store into the bloc’s new digital antitrust list, Bloomberg News had reported in November.

On Tuesday, Apple asked a London tribunal to throw out a mass lawsuit worth around $1 billion brought on behalf of more than 1,500 app developers over its App Store rules.

Apple had also drawn criticism from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg who called App Store policies and fee structure as problematic and causing a conflict of interest.

“We’ve always been interested in helping developers distribute their apps, and new options would add more competition in this space,” Meta said on Wednesday.

“Developers deserve more ways to easily get their apps to the people that want them.”

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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Apple Car Launch Delayed to 2028; to Arrive With Limited Self-Driving Capabilities: Report

Apple has reportedly modified its plans to build an electric vehicle (EV) as the company scales back its ambitions for its first car. While the iPhone maker was previously expected to develop and launch a ‘driverless’ car similar to Tesla’s vehicles, it will now focus on launching an EV with a few connected car features, according to a report. As the company faces new challenges, the launch date for its first vehicle is also said to be delayed by another two years.

Citing people with knowledge of the project, Bloomberg reports that Apple’s project to build its own car — bearing internal names like Titan and T172 — started nearly a decade ago, but the car is unlikely to be launched before 2028. Apple’s board reportedly pressured the company after millions of dollars were spent in research and development for hardware and software, without a prototype, according to the report. 

Apple has also reportedly scaled back its ambitions to launch a self-driving car at Level 5 (Full automation) — the most advanced form of automated driving envisioned by experts — to Level 4 (Fully automated driving) and finally settling on Level 2+ (Partly automated driving). Level 2 is what other carmakers such as Tesla currently offer via its Autopilot feature.

This means that if Apple is able to launch its EV by 2028, the vehicle can be expected to offer similar functionality as Tesla’s Autopilot mode that requires drivers to be seated and keep monitoring the road, so that they can take control of the vehicle at a moment’s notice.

However, it is currently unclear whether Apple will be able to launch its first electric car within the next four years. The purported deadline has already slipped by two years to 2028, despite a change in plans to reduce the autonomy of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Chinese rival Xiaomi unveiled its first EV last month — the SU7 electric car. Xiaomi Chief Executive Lei Jun said during the car’s launch event in December that the firm plans to become one of the world’s top 5 automakers.

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Death Stranding Director’s Cut Confirmed to Release on iPhone, iPad and Mac on January 30


Samsung Developing Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitor for Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Ring to Compete With Apple Watch



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Samsung Developing Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitor for Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Ring to Compete With Apple Watch

Samsung is reportedly working on developing new health features for its wearable devices as the South Korean tech giant competes with Apple and Google that also manufacture wearables with features aimed at health-conscious users. A company executive reportedly confirmed that the firm is developing non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, while improving blood pressure tracking. These are features that are also being developed by rival Apple, according to previous reports. Samsung recently teased a new wearable device — the Galaxy Ring — and a future model could be equipped with these features.

Hon Pak, Chief Medical Officer at Samsung told Bloomberg that the company is working on adding support for monitoring glucose levels and tracking blood pressure to its wearable devices. “If we can do continuous blood pressure and glucose, we’re in a whole different ballgame. […] I think that’s where everyone is trying to get to. We’re putting significant investment toward that.” the executive said in the interview.

Most blood glucose monitoring devices today require the skin to be punctured, in order to draw blood. However, companies like Apple and Samsung are working on technology that will allow users to track their blood sugar levels in a non-invasive manner. Samsung is also working on improving blood pressure tracking on its smartwatches that must be frequently calibrated with a medical device. 

If the South Korean firm succeeds in developing the technology, it could make its way to the Samsung Galaxy Watch and the recently teased Galaxy Ring, which will reportedly be available by the end of 2024. The company could even beat Apple, which has been working for over a adecade on the same blood glucose monitoring technology for future Apple Watch models.

However, the technology appears to be a few years away — we are unlikely to see these features on the successor to the Galaxy Watch 6 — and Pak is optimistic that non-invasive blood glucose monitoring will be available in the next five years, as per the report. It was reported last year that Apple had arrived at a major breakthrough in developing the advanced blood glucose monitoring technology that could make its way to a future Apple Watch model — the device was reportedly as large as an iPhone at the time.

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Death Stranding Director’s Cut Confirmed to Release on iPhone, iPad and Mac on January 30

Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima’s surreal package delivery title that first launched as a PlayStation exclusive in 2019 and later ported to PC, has a new release date on Apple devices. The Director’s Cut version of the game is arriving January 30 on iPhone, iPad and Mac, with pre-orders currently open, 505 Games announced Tuesday. The studio, which was also responsible for the PC port, will bring the Kojima Productions‘ title to compatible apple devices. These include the A17 Pro-powered iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and macOS devices running on M1 chip or later. Death Standing was first announced for Apple platforms at the company’s WWDC event in June last year, where Kojima showed off Mac gameplay and promised support for future titles.

505 Games announced that Death Stranding Director’s Cut will launch on Apple’s App Store on January 30, with a 50 percent discount for users who pre-order the game. In India, the discounted price for the game comes in at Rs. 1,999. The studio also confirmed that game will be available for universal purchase, meaning users would only need to buy it once to access it on multiple Apple devices.

Apple has made a big gaming push on its platforms in the past few months, announcing multiple AAA titles, previously only available on consoles and Windows PC, on its platforms. At its iPhone 15 event in September, the Cupertino, California-based company confirmed that graphics-intensive titles like Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed Mirage would be coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple said that its six-core A17 Pro chipset allows its mobile devices to run AAA games at an aggregable framerate and graphical presentation.

The two Resident Evil games have already launched on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, with Resident Evil 4 remake releasing on compatible Apple devices last month. While Death Stranding Director’s Cut will arrive later this month, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set to debut on iPhone sometime later this year.

Death Stranding was released initially on the PS4 in 2019, with a PC port arriving a year later. The game’s Director’s Cut version, with enhanced graphics and new gameplay elements, launched natively on the PS5 in late 2021. The genre-bending game is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where an extinction event opened a portal between the land of the living and that of the dead. The game’s protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges (played by Norman Reedus), is tasked with connecting scattered remnants of society living in bunkers across a desolate United States of America.

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iOS 17.3 With Stolen Device Protection, Apple Music Collaborative Playlists Released Alongside macOS 14.3

iOS 17.3 was released by Apple on Monday alongside macOS 14.3 Sonoma for eligible smartphones and Mac computers. The latest iOS software update comes with a new feature designed to protect your account from thieves. Apple Music has also been updated with support for Collaborative Playlists. Meanwhile, customers will now be able to see warranty details for all their devices in the Settings app. Apple has also included several security fixes as part of the latest iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3 updates.

Apple’s release notes for the iOS 17.3 update reveal that Stolen Device Protection will be available to users after updating to the latest version. This optional security feature is designed to thwart attempts from thieves to steal your phone in public after observing the passcode to unlock the handset, allowing them to change your account password, phone passcode, and access other sensitive information. Instead, iOS will now require Face ID and add a waiting period before certain settings can be changed.

iOS 17.3 (alongside iPadOS 17.3) and macOS 14.3 Sonoma come with fixes for 15 and 16 security flaws, respectively. These patches fix vulnerabilities related to Safari’s WebKit engine, Shortcuts, Spell Checker, Apple’s Neural Engine — the company’s on-device machine learning NPU — and the mail search service. The company also fixed a bug that caused the system’s time zone management service to expose a user’s phone number to third-party apps via the system log.

iOS 17.3 includes fixes for a range of security vulnerabilities
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Gadgets 360

 

In order to install these updates, you can open the Settings app on iOS, iPadOS, or macOS and tap on General > Software Update. If you have an older iPhone, you can also check to see if iOS 16.7.5 and iOS 15.8.1 are available to download using the same method — these updates don’t bring new features, but they include security fixes for older devices.

Aside from these noteworthy fixes and improvements, Apple has finally rolled out Collaborative Playlists on Apple Music, a feature that was shown off last year and appeared briefly on the iOS 17.2 beta. Apple Music subscribers can now contribute to playlists together and react with emoji within these playlists.

Meanwhile, iOS 17.3 users can also use AirPlay for hotel TVs, a feature that will allow them to scan a QR code — on supported TVs in select hotels — to instantly pair with the TV in their room. IHG Hotels & Resorts has already worked with the company to enable AirPlay for hotel TV support on supported TV models, according to Apple.

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Apple 12.9-inch iPad Air Alleged CAD Renders Surface Online; Shows New Camera Design

iPad Air with a 12.9-inch display is said to be in the works. Apple is yet to announce any details about the new tablet, but ahead of it, a few CAD (computer-aided design) renders have leaked online offering a glimpse at the possible design of the iPad Air. The upcoming model seems to have a similar design language to the existing 10.9-inch iPad Air (2022) with a slightly redesigned rear camera unit. It appears to feature a slim body, a Touch ID button, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom.

91Mobiles shared the CAD renders of the rumoured 12.9-inch iPad Air. They suggest a slim body and an all-screen design for the tablet. It is seen with a speaker unit located on the top and bottom, a power button at the top, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom. The tablet seems to have a Touch ID button similar to the previous iPad Air models.

The 12.9-inch iPad Air appears to have a redesigned pill-shaped rear camera unit that protrudes from the rear. This new design resembles the rear camera unit of the iPhone X. The current iPad Air has a circular camera cutout at the rear.

Multiple sources have claimed that Apple is planning to release the larger 12.9-inch iPad Air around March this year. Beyond the bigger display size, the tablet is expected to be powered by Apple’s M2 chip and could feature an OLED screen. The current iPad Air has a 10.9-inch display. The new larger-screened iPad Air would match the screen size of the iPad Pro display.

Besides the new iPad Air, Apple is expected to unveil a new iPad Pro lineup featuring OLED displays by June. They could run on the latest M3 chip.

Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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