Category: Apple

Apple To Start Manufacturing iPhone X In India July Onwards

In the light of the recent news that Apple has started manufacturing the iPhone 7 in India, rumours came to light stating that the American technology organization will also start the manufacturing the iPhone X in India soon. It seems that the rumours weren’t rumours after all, as sources have confirmed that Foxconn will begin commercial production of the iPhone X series in India starting July.

As per reports, the production will begin in Foxconn’s 160-acre factory located in Chennai. Claims were also made regarding the fact that the company will step up its production capacity and will slowly expand towards manufacturing higher models of the iPhone lineup. Moreover, reports also stated that the expansion will largely depend upon the viability of the production process in regard to the next government. When the concerned organizations were contacted, no statement was received in return.

In 2017, Apple started manufacturing its first smartphone in India via Wistron, which was the iPhone SE, and the commercial production of the same started in a factory based on the outskirts of Bangalore. After iPhone SE, the iPhone 6S was placed under production in the same factory. Statistics indicate that more than 290 million Apple smartphones were manufactured in India in the year 2018, which is almost 5 times the number of devices manufactured in 2014.

Also Read: Realme 3 Pro To Be Launched On 22nd April

As previously reported, Apple is revamping its market strategy in the country by shaping the perception of Indian smartphone consumers towards Apple. The American company also plans to undergo major changes to improve its marketing statistics in India. Since the iPhone X will now be manufactured in India, this might result in higher profits, leading to more capital invested in R&D (Research And Development) and improved sales statistics.

April 11, 2019
Apple Watch Saves Another 23-Year Old’s Life

Apple launched the Series 4 Apple Watch in September 2018, and the watch has significant improvements over its predecessors. One of the most noteworthy features is the improvement in the heart rate sensor, which informed the wearer regarding any spikes or drops in the heart rate, even if the user doesn’t feel any symptoms. Previously, owing to the fall detection feature of the smartwatch, a 67-Year old man was rescued by Emergency services and provided life-saving assistance. As per a Reddit post, a user accredited his life to the Apple Watch’s Heartbeat detection feature.

As per the user, he was in bed and watching TV when his Apple Watch alerted him regarding a heartbeat anomaly, and then suddenly, his heartbeat spiked up. It was then he realized something was actually wrong with his heart and he called the ER (Emergency Services). When the medics arrived, they found him in a state of shock and he was taken to the hospital and shifted to Trauma. It was later found out that he was suffering from Supraventricular Tachycardia (a condition in which the heart rate stays over 100 bpm, even if all the chambers of the heart are functioning normally).

Also Read: ASUS 5G Concept Smartphone Renders Show Off Stylish Slider Design

The Apple Watch Series 4 regularly monitors the heartbeat of the user and also keeps a track of the heart’s performance throughout the day. The overall statistics can be analyzed in the iPhone Health application. If the heart rate sensor on the Apple Watch detects anything unusual with the heartbeat, it alerts the user. If no further action is taken, the Emergency SOS feature alerts all the emergency contacts, calls the medical helpline number, sends your current location and displays the Medical ID badge of the wearer on the screen.

April 8, 2019
How Did Two College Students Scam Apple Of $ 1 Million?
Allegedly, two Chinese engineering students residing in Oregon, USA scammed Apple of a huge sum, and for the exact same deed, both of them are facing federal charges. The whole scam cost Apple almost US$ 1 Million in replacement parts. As per reports, the students were indulged in malpractices since 2017 and were exploiting Apple’s return policy to a high degree.

The real question is, why was this discovered almost two years later, and how did two students manage to elude a trillion dollar technology giant?

Who Was Involved In The Scam?

Yangyang Zhou and Quan Jiang are the names of the two who are charged with multiple felonies. As per reports, Yangyang recently completed his engineering degree at the Oregon State University. Yangyang and Quan smuggled thousands of knock-off iPhones from China into the US and forwarded them batch by batch to Apple for repair/replacement. The students claimed that the counterfeit iPhones won’t power on, which was correct, so Apple sent back real iPhones as a replacement to the fake iPhones. All this cost the American technology company a whooping sum of US$ 895,800.

How Did The Students Manage To Elude Apple?

Where Yangyang channelled the counterfeit shipments into the US and the real iPhones back to China, Quan, who also studied engineering at Linn Benton Community College in the same city was responsible for managing the funds associated with the deals. The address of the shipments was provided by Quan, and when the replacements were complete, the real iPhones were sent back to China. Consequently, an associate of Quan wired the money to his mother’s account in his hometown. The money was then forwarded to Quan Jiang’s account in the US, reports say.

As per the complaints, Yangyang and Quan both claimed to be completely alien to the fact that the incoming shipments from China consisted of counterfeit iPhones. Since the charges haven’t been proved yet, both students remitted of custody, however, Quan Jiang is being monitored via GPS. The charges that the students have been accused of are given below:
- Yangyang Zhou: Illegal Export of Goods
- Quan Jiang: Trafficking of Counterfeit Goods, Wire Fraud
The Conclusion

Also Read: Top Five Free Photo Editing Apps For Android Smartphones

Reports say that Apple was unable to verify the ownership and authenticity of the counterfeit iPhones since they weren’t powering on, however, it became even more viable because Apple didn’t ask for a proof of purchase while replacing the devices. Even though both the students refuse to respond to the notices associated with the same, it is unlikely that they will be acquitted of charges.
April 6, 2019
Apple iPhone XI Middle Frame Leaks, Shows Triple Camera Cutout

Rumours surrounding the design of the upcoming iPhone XI are already afloat. Since triple camera setups are the market norms for any flagship smartphone these days (except for the Google Pixel), a multitude of fans and consumers are expecting a triple camera setup on the Apple iPhone XI. Previously, leaks had revealed the presence of a triple camera setup on the upcoming device. In recent developments, the images of the alleged iPhone XI’s middle frame have surfaced online.

About The Leak

The middle frame usually forms the basis of a phone’s chassis. It holds the major components of a smartphone together, including the chipset, battery, display panel and the mainframe of the device. The leaked image clearly indicates towards the new triple camera setup of the upcoming device. The module is present on the top left corner of the metal middle frame and has three circular holes.

Consequently, it seems that the flagship’s camera module will sport three camera sensors, a flash and what looks to be a microphone for directional audio capturing. Apart from the primary camera, one of the other sensors can be an ultrawide sensor, whereas the third could be a telephoto lens. The upcoming iPhone is expected to feature Apple’s latest chip and an improved battery upgrade. Moreover, the iPhone 11 is speculated to feature reverse wireless charging, which will allow users to wirelessly charge their accessories including AirPods and other wireless charging compatible devices. This feature was first seen in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, which was launched in 2018.

Expected Availability

Also Read: Apple May Release The iPhone XE With A 4.8 Inch Display This Year

However, Apple fans should take this news with a grain of salt, because it is a leak after all. Apple is also rumoured to unveil a device with a flexible display to go up against other foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei Mate X and Xiaomi Foldable Smartphone. When and where these devices will be launched is not known to everyone as of now. The iPhone 11 may make an appearance in the second half of 2019.

April 5, 2019
Apple May Release The iPhone XE With A 4.8 Inch Display This Year

Apple launched the iPhone SE back in the year 2016. The smartphone quickly became one of the best compact devices of its time. Apple has been long awaited to launch its successor which has not yet happened. Pleasingly, a new report claims Apple may finally launch its successor, allegedly called the iPhone XE later this year. Noteworthy, the smartphone may be produced by Wistron, which has massive production plants in India.

iPhone XE

Sources claim the iPhone XE will have a similar design to the original iPhone SE, which suggests an aluminium back. Since metal doesn’t let current pass through the induction method; the possibility of the device supporting wireless charging is ruled out. Reports claim the smartphone will feature a 4.8 inch OLED display with a wide notch and minimal bezels. The notch will feature the components used for FaceID, Apple’s signature biometrics security technology. This suggests the handset will ditch the TouchID in favour of FaceID in comparison to its predecessor.

The reports further claim that the iPhone XE will run on the current 7nm Apple A12 Bionic SoC. This processor is also present on the iPhone XS, XS Max and the iPhone XR. In terms of optics, a single rear camera is expected. This may an f/1.8 aperture equipped 12MP sensor last seen in the iPhone XR. For selfies, a 7MP camera is expected to be housed in the notch on top of the display. Although the report of a smaller iPhone has been rife for quite some time, there has been no announcement from Apple. It may be the case that the Cupertino giant may surprise everyone by launching the aforementioned smartphone.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Top 5 Movie Trailers To Watch This Week, Avengers, Joker And More

The reports claim the iPhone XE might launch in the third quarter of this year. The price of the smartphone is expected to start at around US$ 600 (Rs. 41,400).

April 4, 2019
Apple Stepping Up In-House 5G Modem Production After Conflict With Intel

As per a report, Apple is facing strained relationships with the American chipmaker Intel, due to which it is ramping up its in-house modem production for its future 5G smartphones, which may make their way into the market by the year 2021. Now, It appears that Apple has lost its confidence in Intel’s ability to deliver the promised 5G modems by 2020.

About The Intel-Apple Partnership

Reports state that 1000 to 2000 Qualcomm and Intel engineers are working on the aforementioned chips and modems, which will be used in future iPhones. However, Intel has reportedly missed out on deadlines for the production and development of the XMM 8160 5G modem. While Apple is unsatisfied with Intel’s results, Intel reverted by saying that Apple is a demanding client and that it is very conflicted with Apple regarding the partnership.

Additionally, Intel also claims that it has lowered its margins drastically in light of the partnership, and at the same time, the company has to treat Apple as its number one priority. The internal conflict between the two companies may take a more serious turn, with Intel focusing on more profitable businesses in other categories. Even though doing so might be a breach of contract, Intel may start taking a practical oversight of the situation, which might harm relations between both the companies.

Also Read: Beats Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Earbuds Launched

Consequently, Apple is in a twist regarding the 5G modem production. Companies like Samsung and MediaTek will be unable to supply 5G modems for the iPhones by at least 2020, reports say. As reported previously, Apple has been in a legal fallout with chipset manufacturer, Qualcomm, so the prospects of Apple and Qualcomm working together for a long period of time may be very weak. Nonetheless, Apple is known for treating its customers with the utmost priority, so the American multinational technology company may have something up its sleeve in order to speed up the rollout of 5G iPhones in the near future.

April 4, 2019
Apple Slashes Prices Of The iPhone XR For A Limited Period
Apple launched the current generation of iPhones at an event in September last year. The devices launched include the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR. While the former two were the pair of flagship smartphones from the company, the latter created more buzz. Mainly because it was a more affordable, slightly specced down variant of its elder siblings. In a bid to attract more buyers, the company has discounted the price of the iPhone XR for a limited time period.

iPhone XR: Price & Availability

In the promotional offer, Apple has partnered with HDFC Bank to provide a reduced price on the iPhone XR. Under this scheme, the 64GB variant of the smartphone will cost Rs. 59,900 down from Rs. 76,900 earlier. The 128GB version will retail for Rs. 64,900, dropping from Rs. 81,900. The model with 256GB of storage, which was earlier priced at Rs. 91,900, will cost Rs. 74,900 under the promotion. Apple has announced this offer will be applicable only for a limited time and will go into effect starting the 5th of April. Customers of HDFC Bank can also avail a 10 percent cashback on the smartphone.

iPhone XR

The iPhone XR is the most affordable smartphone from Apple in the latest iPhone series. It features an all-glass design on the front and the back with an aluminium chassis to provide rigidity. The device sports a 6.1 inch LCD display with a resolution of 1792 x 828 px. For biometrics and security, the handset uses FaceID, the company signature security technology for mobile devices.

The iPhone XR runs on the Apple A12 Bionic Processor which is manufactured using 7nm fabrication process. The device has a four-core GPU that is 50% faster than the A11 chip from 2018. In terms of optics, The smartphone has an f/1.8 aperture equipped single 12 MP wide-angle camera. For selfies, there is a 7 MP camera sensor housed in the notch on top of the display. In terms of memory and storage, the device is available with 3GB of RAM and the following three storage variants.
- 64GB ROM
- 128GB ROM
- 256GB ROM
Also read: Mi Fan Festival 2019: Here Are The Top Deals On Xiaomi Products

The iPhone XR is powered by a 2942 mAh battery and is IP67 certified for water and dust resistance. The smartphone is available in 5 colours, namely Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, and White.
April 4, 2019
Foxconn To Start Trial Run Of iPhone X/XS Production In India

Foxconn, a known Taiwanese contract manufacturer, will soon start producing Apple’s latest smartphones, namely the iPhone X and iPhone XS models in the Indian subcontinent. Fresh reports claim that the company is planning to start a trial run of the said production in a few weeks. This news arrives after Apple announced that another manufacturer, Wistron has started manufacturing the iPhone 7 in the Indian market.

What Does This Mean?

Sources claim the trial run of the iPhone X and iPhone XS smartphone models would take place before Foxconn starts full-scale assembly of the said devices. This would take place at the factory outside the city of Chennai. If the plan proceeds to fruition, Apple would then be responsible for the production of iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, iPhone 7 and the iPhone X/XS in India. The Indian assembly line of Foxconn’s Hon Hai Precision Industry would manufacture smartphones for the local and export markets; until the announcement of the next iPhone, suggestively in September this year.

The reports cite that out of 140 million smartphone shipments in India last year, Apple had just 1.7 million. This makes for just around a 1 percent share in the country. If the company starts the production of its premium devices locally, it would get rid of the 20 percent import duty that it has to pay. The company would meet the 30 percent local sourcing criteria; which would make it get one step closer to opening its own chain of retail store in India. Foxconn, its manufacturer is said to invest around US$ 300 million to set up the production; and will increase the investment as the capacity increases.

Also read: Best Wireless Headphones Under Rs 3,000 In India For April 2019

It is likely that Apple iPhone X/XS will get a significant price reduction if they are manufactured locally. This is due to the aforementioned freedom from import duties. Start of the company’s own retail stores can bring initiatives like “Today at Apple” to the country; which is the name of creative sessions by trained professionals.

April 3, 2019
Apple Starts Manufacturing The iPhone 7 In India

The American multinational technology company, Apple has started manufacturing the iPhone 7 in the country, strengthening the “Make in India” slogan. Previously, the company was producing the iPhone 6s and iPhone SE in India, but with the addition of the iPhone 7 to the list, Apple is clearly indicating that it will eventually develop the country as a manufacturing hub for a major chunk of its devices.

iPhone 7 Manufacturing Plant

As per reports, Wistron, which is the Taiwanese manufacturer of Apple Products in India has already been manufacturing the iPhone 7 smartphones in India since the onset of the month of March. iPhone SE and iPhone 6s were also being manufactured in the same plant, which is located on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Will Apple Redesign Its Market Strategy?

However, reports say that Apple is not looking towards reducing the price point of the iPhone 7 in the market, rather, the company will probably invest the margins from the production of the iPhone 7 into a new sales and marketing strategy. Moreover, the company may just be testing India by manufacturing its older devices before starting the production of more recent smartphones such as the iPhone X and the iPhone XS.

As previously reported, Apple is rethinking its market strategy in India. The company is trying to shape the perception of Indian smartphone consumers towards Apple as a sumptuous brand. The American company also plans to adopt newer strategies to improve its marketing statistics. Since the iPhone 7 will now be manufactured in India, it will now make more profits at the same price points, leading to more capital invested in R&D (Research And Development) and better sales.

Also Read: Samsung Will Launch Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab S5e Galaxy A20 and Galaxy A20e In India This Month

Apple also launched a premium news streaming service, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and the Apple Card at the Apple Show Time event on March 25. The company is expected to bring all these services to India in early 2020 in order to establish itself as an entertainment services company in addition to the tech manufacturer it already is.

April 2, 2019
Apple Arcade: Which Are The Top Games So Far?

The first quarter of 2019 was a substantial period for gaming, and there are still 9 months to go for any further launches and innovations. At GDC 2019, Google released Stadia, a (supposedly) amazing cloud gaming service, yet no release date or pricing for the same was unveiled at the event. Gamers were just getting over the “hardware-independent gaming” hype, when Apple announced its own subscription-based gaming service, known as the Apple Arcade at the Apple Show Time event on March 26, 2019. Additionally, the company also launched the Apple News+, Apple TV+ and the Apple Card.

https://youtu.be/67umVefSXnY

Apple Arcade is different from Google Stadia in a lot of aspects. For starters, where players need an active high-speed internet connection to play games using Stadia, games can simply be downloaded on the device with Apple Arcade and can be played without internet. Furthermore, it’s not clear whether Stadia will employ a subscription model or a pay-per-game model, but it’s clear as daylight that Apple will allow you to play multiple games on its Arcade store with just a simple “game pass”, which is similar to the payment model that Xbox users adhere to.

A lot of big game developers and publishers are already a part of Apple’s (game) plan. Sega, Konami, Annapurna and Platinum Games are just some of the companies that are backing Apple up on this. To gamers’ pleasant surprise, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the video designer who had a key role in the making of the acclaimed “Final Fantasy” series is also releasing a game called “Fantasian” on Apple’s new platform. The company also promises that new games will keep making their way into Arcade’s library, making sure that the subscribers are never devoid of fresh content.

https://youtu.be/95FuVib8mcY

Given below are some games that have been confirmed for Apple’s platform. However, note that users won’t be able to play any of these games on Arcade until Apple brings the service to the market. As per the company’s statement, Apple Arcade will go live later during Fall 2019.

Hot Lava

Hot Lava is an adaptation of the childhood game “The floor is lava”, where children have to keep jumping from one furniture piece to another, pretending that the floor is lava. Except in this game, the floor is literally lava. The game’s trailer depicts it as quite a fun game to play, with fluid parkour moves being used by the character to escape the onslaught of the lava. The game is designed by Klei Entertainment, and by the looks of it, a lot of gamers will have an amazing time with this game.

Click here to sign up for the game beta.

Team Sonic Racing

Although Team Sonic was first launched at E3 2018, it is making its way to the list of the very first games that Apple Arcade users will be able to play. One of the most lovable characters in the SEGA universe, Sonic will take on his opponents with the help of his friends. But no more “knuckle” violence, instead, players will be able to choose from a list of 15 playable characters to race on a track with a plethora of vehicle options. With a colourful environment and fast-paced gameplay, Team Sonic has already proven its worth on consoles, and will now charm its way out of Apple gamers.

Check out more about the game on its official website.

The Pathless

Indie games have been a key part in driving interests of gamers away from genres like Battle Royale and Competitive FPS games. Such a beautiful indie title is The Pathless, which, similarly to Team Sonic, was first revealed three months back for PS4 and PC (Epic games). However, the game has now also been confirmed to arrive on Apple Arcade. The game depicts the mysterious adventure of an archer who befriends an eagle and travels through a vast forest. Noteworthy, the game isn’t officially out yet, so players may have to wait to play it till the game actually releases in 2019.

Check out the game’s website here.

Sayonara Wild Hearts

Sayonara Wild Hearts looks like a game derived straight out of a music video. The game is tough to describe, but as per the developer, the game is an “euphoric music video dream about being awesome, riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at 200 mph.”. The game was originally scheduled for Nintendo Switch, but it seems that now the game is coming to Apple Arcade as well. The developer also claims to have almost zero loading times.

LEGO Brawls

Also Read: PUBG Mobile: How Can Players Check Their First Year Game Stats?

With already a lot of fun-to-play games on different platforms, the LEGO Brawls gameplay trailer showcases a game that is built on a foundation unlike other LEGO games out there. As of now, the game is still under development, but the key point of the trailer is to exhibit how fun the game is. With huge robots, cute LEGO characters and LEGO weapons, the game puts a pretty good impression out there. Also, the game may also feature a battle royale mode for its fans.

March 29, 2019
Apple iPhone 11 with Triple Camera Leaked

Rumours have been around for a very long time stating that Apple’s next iteration of flagships, the iPhone 11 will feature a triple camera setup. With almost all smartphone brands living up to the triple camera or quad camera norms, the iPhone 11 is expected to be Apple’s first smartphone with more than two cameras. A freshly leaked schematic from the company showcased the triple rear camera module of the device, and it may be a shift from Apple’s conventional method of design.

About The Leak

https://twitter.com/OnLeaks/status/1111353645768028160

The leak clearly shows a welding pattern for the upcoming Apple smartphone, and upon closer looks, one can make up quite a few ideas about how the speculated iPhone 11 will look. While most of the details are rather obscure, one feature that stands out is the layout of the cameras in the top left corner of the design, where the schematic depicts three circular cutouts and two square cutouts. Consequently, it seems that the flagship’s camera module will sport three camera sensors, a flash and what looks to be a microphone for directional audio capturing. Apart from the primary camera, one of the other sensors can be an ultrawide sensor, whereas the third could be a telephoto lens.

Previously, images of the iPhone’s camera had leaked with a different sensor arrangement, which has been negated with the most recent leak. Even though some leaksters labelled the new design as the upgraded version of the iPhone XR, it is very unlikely that Apple will redesign the aforementioned device. The upcoming iPhone is expected to feature Apple’s latest chip and an improved battery upgrade. Moreover, the iPhone 11 is speculated to feature reverse wireless charging, which will allow users to wirelessly charge their accessories including AirPods and other wireless charging compatible devices.

Expected Availability

Also Read: Why Are Smartphones Becoming Expensive With Each Passing Day?

However, Apple fans should take this news with a grain of salt, because it is a leak after all. Apple is also rumoured to unveil a device with a flexible display to go up against other foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei Mate X and Xiaomi Foldable Smartphone. When and where these devices will be launched is a mystery to everyone as of now. The iPhone 11 may make an appearance in the second half of 2019.

March 29, 2019
Round Up Of The Apple Event Held On 25 March

Cupertino based tech titan, Apple held an event on the 25th of March where it announced four brand new subscription services. The list of newly announced services includes Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple Card and Apple News Plus.

Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade is the company’s take on a gaming service which spans across the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac computers. The paid subscription will initially provide access to over 100 gaming titles which will sprout further over time. Noteworthy, it even allows the user to play games in offline mode. This is a significant aspect as its direct competitor, the newly launched Google Stadia lacks support for this notable feature. The service will roll out in autumn this year and its pricing details are yet to be revealed. Exceptionally, family members can also share the subscription across different devices without an additional cost.

Apple Card

Apple card is a virtual credit card service which is developed for iPhone users and is an extension of the Apple Pay and Wallet services. The service is intended towards lowering interest rates, removing unnecessary fees and simplifying the process of applications in obtaining a credit card. According to the company, the service will simplify the use of existing digital payment mediums to a great extent.

Notably, it is just a credit card service and not a banking service. Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs and MasterCard that handle its financial end. As previously mentioned, the user can directly sign up for a card right from the iPhone which is generated in minutes, unlike conventional service which can take days. Reportedly, the service makes use of machine learning which can precisely reflect the spending patterns of the user and also offer rewards in cash. Distinctly, the service will not charge late fees from the however, its functioning is unclear as of now.

Apple News Plus

As the name suggests, it is a news service from Apple that again requires a paid subscription. It showcases the content in a user-friendly and elegant manner which is enriched with photographs, animations and typography optimised for Apple devices including iPhone, iPad and Mac. The news service incorporates content from over 300 established newspapers, magazines and digital publishers some of which include Vogue, WSJ, GQ, Traveller, Wired and The New Yorker. The service is currently limited to the US and Canada where the users can subscribe it at a monthly fee of $ 9.99 and $ 12.99 respectively. Admirably, six members of a family can share one Apple News Plus subscription.

Apple TV Plus

Also Read: Xiaomi Poco F1 Gets Game Turbo Mode For Better Gaming Performance

Apple TV Plus is the company’s attempt at a video streaming service which will take on the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime. The service is set to launch in over 100 countries which will roll out in Q4 of 2019. According to the company, around 30 original projects are currently in the works which will be exclusive to the platform. Additionally, content from renowned channels including HBO, Showtime, CBS All Access will also be available on the streaming service. Like the Apple Arcade, its price is also currently unavailable.

In addition to the Apple Plus subscription service, the company has also released an all-new Apple TV application which has a completely redesigned interface. The new version of the application is designed to serve on-demand digital content, without advertisement with the option of offline downloads. The new Apple TV app is now available for the Apple TV and iOS devices. While its support for third-party smart TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung and Vizio will be available some.

March 26, 2019
Apple Launches Apple News Plus And Apple Card

Apple’s Show Time Event saw the company launching its news subscription service, called Apple News Plus with a collection of over 300 magazines. The service aims to provide a high quality curated news experience, which forms the basis of any News application. With a premium catalogue of magazines such as the National Geographic, the Vogue, and the New Yorker, Apple News Plus launched the service in the US and Canada on March 25. In addition, the company also launched its own credit card application, known as the Apple Card, the much-awaited Apple TV+ Streaming service and the Apple Arcade, which is a game subscription service.

About Apple News Plus

The application will be rolled out in an update for Apple devices and will bring forth a wide variety of stories and news for its users. Making the Apple News service more “premium” was Apple’s goal all along, as showcased by beautiful magazine covers in neat and impressive layouts in the application. Some magazine covers are intricately and vividly designed, others are animated and some sport a bold typography style to make a premium statement.

Apple claims that it won’t track what its users read on the News Plus application, nor will it allow advertisers to track them without their consent. With more than 5 billion articles read on the Apple News app every month, the company wants its users to make the best use of its premium news plus app rather than relying on social media networks for news that may be adulterated.

Subscription Plans And Availability

Similar to other mainstream subscription services, Apple News Plus aims to provide paid readable content from different magazines to its premium users, who will pay a monthly fee. One of the many news sources that Apple partnered with is the Wall Street Journal, which will cater general news to the company so that Apple can do the same for its users. The News Plus subscription service will be priced at $9.99 per month for users in the United States, whereas Canadian users will have to pay $12.99 per month for the same. A welcoming piece of information is the fact that up to six members of a family can share the subscription. Furthermore, the service offers its users a free month of trial before they decide whether to pay for the premium News curation or not. First seeing the light of Canada and the US, Apple News Plus will be launched in the UK and Australia later this year.

Apple Card

As mentioned before, Apple also unveiled its new credit card app, known as the Apple Card. The company clearly states that it is not just similar to a bank or online banking services, rather, the Apple card users will help its users be a part of a well-balanced financial life. Based on a simplicity factor that provides transparency and privacy at the same time, the Apple Card is designed specifically for the iPhone and will integrate directly with the Apple Wallet card.

Features

One of the many defining features of the Apple Card is the elimination of any transactional charges while using it. The app will encourage users to pay lesser interest and provide them with the lowest interest rate in the market. Moreover, the Card has a very attractive rewards program which gives back a percentage of every purchase made via the card. The rewards are stored as cash on the customers’ Apple Cash card, which can be used for making other transactions. A user will get 2% cashback on every payment made via the card, while a 3% cashback will be earned for every purchase made directly from Apple. Noteworthy, any purchase made via the physical card will earn just 1 percent cash back.

Also Read: Netflix Starts Testing Rs. 250 Monthly Subscription Plan In India

Mastercard will handle all aspects of payment processing for Apple. Rumours surrounding the Apple card have been rendered true, as the company has partnered with Goldman Sachs for the card. A unique card number will be generated on the user’s iPhone and will be stored securely on the device itself. Similar to the Apple News Service, the company won’t track the contents of the purchase made by the users, or any in-depth details of the same. Clearly, Apple is focusing on the privacy end here, which a lot of customers are skeptical about these days.

March 26, 2019
Apple Launches Apple TV+ And Apple Arcade

Apple announced its newest subscription based services called Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade at an event on Monday at the Steve Jobs theatre in Cupertino, USA. The former is a video subscription service aimed at competing with rivals like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and the latter is a game subscription service. The company also announced a new Apple TV app for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, smart TVs and various streaming devices. At the same event, the company also launched the Apple News+, a news and magazine subscription service and the Apple Card, an all-new payment service.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is the company’s venture into the streaming service market. It is a subscription-based video service that has a host of features to differentiate it from the competitors. Unlike Netflix and Prime Video, it has a host of channels available on TV which the users can subscribe on an individual basis. These channels include HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and MTV Hits. Apple has alleged that more channels from around the world will be added in the due course of time.

At the launch of Apple TV+ celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa made an appearance to announce their shows on the platform. The new Apple TV app, on the other hand, will be a host to all the new shows and channels by the company and will also offer suggestions for shows and movies from over 150 streaming applications, including Amazon Prime, Hulu, Canal+ and more. Apart from the aforementioned media, the app will also house the movies and TV shows available to purchase and/or rent from the Apple iTunes store.

The Apple TV+ video streaming service will be announced later in fall this year, which suggests a release in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company will also announce the pricing of the service at the same time. The new Apple TV app will be available to download on iOS devices, Apple TV and Mac starting this May. In a surprising move, Apple has also partnered with brands like Samsung, VIZIO, LG and Roku to bring the Apple TV app on their respective smart TV and streaming devices.

Apple Arcade

The Apple Arcade is the world’s first mobile, desktop and TV game subscription service. It will make use of over 3,00,000 games available on the App store to bring a streamlined gaming experience. The service aims at introducing a new way to give users access to exclusive games, handpicked by Apple on the platform. A new tab named ‘Arcade’ will exist inside the App store and will allow a subscription option which in turn enable the users to try out a game in the service. Notably, all the games available in the subscription will be free to play, with no additional purchases required.

Also Read: Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under Rs. 2,000 In India

Another innovative feature Apple is introducing with the Arcade service is an option for offline playability and the game controller support for compatible games. As the subscription is extended to various Apple devices, users can leave a game on an iPhone and start where they left it off on another device like an iPad, Mac or an Apple TV. Over time, more new games will be available on the service. The service will launch in fall, like the Apple TV+ and the pricing of the service, will also be announced then. In the meanwhile, interested developers can apply to be a part of Apple Arcade by visiting the link here.

March 26, 2019
Apple’s Special Show Time Event, Here’s What To Expect

Apple will host its much-awaited launch event at the Steve Jobs Theater, California on March 25. Rumours have been around for a long time regarding Apple’s upcoming streaming service. The anticipated streaming service will go up against other popular services including Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix.

About The Streaming Service

As per reports, HBO and CBS, two very popular networks have agreed to partner up with Apple’s upcoming service, whereas Hulu and Netflix have chosen to stay away from the same for obvious reasons. This means that the company will source content from other channels as well as create original content for the streaming service. Reportedly, Apple spent over US$ 2 Billion to sign up major stars like Oprah Winfrey for the event that will shortly go live.

Apple is also looping a clip on the Apple Events web page, which shows a video feed from the Steve Jobs Theater itself. The stage has some sort of screen which is displaying a variety of content, including the Apple screensaver and interestingly, an incoming call from Captain America, hinting at the fact that the company has probably signed up Chris Evans for a project. It will also come forward with a host of other shows over varied genres such as drama, comedy, science fiction and movies for children.

About The News Subscription Service

Furthermore, Apple will also unveil its News Subscription service at the event, which will aim towards unifying major premium magazine content and news subscriptions. Apple News was first spotted in an iOS 12.2 beta update, confirming the existence of an idea that relates to its launch. Reports say that the company is asking for a whopping 50 percent cut from the publishers. The subscription cost hasn’t been revealed yet, but Apple may price it somewhere around US$ 10 per month.

How To Watch The Livestream?

Also Read: Apple iPhone SE 2 With Thinner Bezels Leaks Before Official Announcement

Users can watch the live stream from Apple on the company’s events page. The stream will go live at 10:30 pm IST (10:00 am PDT), and the company recommends its users to watch the stream on an Apple device, such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, MacBook etc.

March 25, 2019