Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Watch 5, Buds 2 Pro launched

 Samsung Electronics Co. revealed the most recent age of its foldable gadgets on Wednesday, keeping costs consistent notwithstanding flooding expenses of materials and delivery.

The new Galaxy Z Fold 4, which is about the size of a scratch pad and opens like one, and Z Flip 4, which is square when shut and opens out to normal cell phone size, accompany a set-up of steady redesigns. The current year's Fold has a 45% more strong principal show with limited bezels, a slimmer pivot and redesigned cameras both on the back and under the presentation, Samsung said. Answering client demands, the organization redesigned the battery on the more modest Flip and added a bigger max stockpiling choice of 512GB.

Samsung shocked industry spectators a year prior when it sent off the Flip 3 at $999, situating it as an immediate contender to Apple Inc's. iPhone territory and a replacement to the Galaxy Note setup. The organization profited from its forceful estimating with record deals of its foldable arrangement from that point forward and has expressed its aspiration to carry the class into the standard. The current year's interruptions to strategies, creation and materials supply have pushed tech organizations like Meta Platforms Inc. to increment valuing, however Samsung is keeping up with similar levels as last year with the Flip 4 and the $1,799 Fold 4....Read More

Google Stadia coming to Apple iPhone, iPad in 2021 through web app: Report

 

Google has affirmed its cloud gaming administration Stadia will be coming to Apple iPhone and iPad. Notwithstanding, it won't be an independent application, rather a web application that will run on any versatile program including Apple's own Safari, as indicated by The Verge.

Google couldn't carry the support of iOS gadgets at the hour of its dispatch as a result of limitations forced by Apple. In August, Apple facilitated limitations after open analysis from Microsoft and others, however the App Store actually expects organizations to submit singular games for App Store audit.

These are not by any means the only two administrations to come to iOS gadgets. The GeForce NOW Cloud gaming administration is now ready for action on iOS Safari in Beta. It is additionally expected to include the generally well known game Fortnite, which has been restricted from the App Store because of Epic Games bypassing Apple's standard 30% charges.

Stadia isn't yet accessible in India, yet reports state Google is intending to present it in the nation by 2021.

As a feature of its one year commemoration, Google Stadia likewise reported its first record of allowed to-mess around. Further, a State Share include that permits players to impart their focuses to watchers or adherents via online media will dispatch in January one year from now, close by the arrival of Hitman 3.

Microsoft additionally means to dispatch its xCloud web-based feature along these lines one year from now. Aside from Microsoft and Google, Nvidia has likewise made a beta web application adaptation of its GeForce Now cloud gaming administration accessible on iOS.

Crunch time for Apple in fight against $15 billion European Union tax order

By Foo Yun Chee and Padraic Halpin

BRUSSELS/DUBLIN (Reuters) - Apple's conflict with EU rivalry controllers reaches a critical stage on Wednesday as Europe's second-most elevated court rules on whether it needs to pay 13 billion euros ($15 billion) in Irish back charges, a key piece of the EU's crackdown against darling assessment bargains.

In its request four years prior, the European Commission said Apple profited by illicit state help by means of two Irish duty decisions that falsely decreased its taxation rate for more than two decades - to as low as 0.005% in 2014.

Destruction for European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager could debilitate or defer pending bodies of evidence against Ikea's and Nike's arrangements with the Netherlands, just as Huhtamaki's concurrence with Luxembourg.

Vestager, who has made the assessment crackdown a highlight of her time in office, saw a similar court a year ago upset her interest for Starbucks to pay as much as 30 million euros in Dutch back charges. For another situation, the court likewise tossed out her decision against a Belgian duty plot for 39 multinationals.

The Apple question is seen by certain experts as a predicament for Ireland, which has advanced against the Commission's structure close by the iPhone creator.

While 14 billion euros - including interest - would go far to stopping the coronavirus-formed opening in the state's accounts, Dublin is trying to ensure a low expense system that has pulled in 250,000 worldwide businesses.

In the event that Ireland's intrigue succeeds, the administration will be scorned by resistance groups for not taking the money, which could cover at any rate half of a spending shortfall estimate to inflatable to as much as 10% of GDP this year.

Should Ireland lose, the administration will be chastised by similar legislators for propelling the intrigue. A decision for the Commission could likewise bring up issues about the utilization of Ireland's expense code at a touchy time, when new worldwide guidelines for burdening advanced monsters are being discussed.

Destruction could likewise hurt Ireland's capacity to draw in venture, despite the fact that the special rush embraced after the Commission's 2016 choice seems to have worked. The numbers utilized by multinationals like Apple, Facebook and Google have developed by 25%, representing one out of ten Irish laborers.

For Apple, destruction would be a blow, yet reasonable given its money possessions beat $190 billion toward the finish of its financial second quarter.

Apple releases public Beta version of iOS 14; to be launched with iPhone 12

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Apple has discharged the open Beta variant of iOS 14 that would be formally accessible in the fall with the new iPhone 12 arrangement.
The open beta form, which has just made waves among the designers for uncovering that tech organizations like TikTok and LinkedIn were duplicating content from Apple client's clipboards, is commonly loaded with bugs which the organization fixes before the last discharge.
The most conspicuous change in iOS 14 is an overhauled screen.
In iOS 14, Apple clients can nail gadgets with refreshing data to the home screen, including schedule and guides smaller than normal projects. Clients can drag a gadget onto the iPhone home screen, where it will remain.
Clients can make a Smart Stack of gadgets, which utilizes on-gadget insight to surface the correct gadget dependent on schedule, area, and movement, said Apple.
Toward the finish of the Home Screen pages is the App Library, another space that consequently sorts out the entirety of a client's applications into one basic, simple to-explore see, and wisely surfaces applications that might be useful at the time.
With Picture-in-Picture support, iPhone clients would now be able to watch a video or accept a FaceTime call while utilizing another application.
New Memoji choices in Messages are much increasingly comprehensive and various with extra haircuts, headwear, face covers, and that's only the tip of the iceberg.
In iOS 14, Apple Maps makes it simpler than at any other time to explore and investigate with new cycling bearings, electric vehicle steering, and curated Guides.
On-gadget mode in iOS 14 permits clients to encounter the highlights of the application disconnected for private voice and text interpretation.
In the new working framework for iPhones, Siri extends its information, helps discover answers from over the web, and would now be able to send sound messages. Console transcription runs on gadget when directing messages, notes, email, and then some.
With iOS 14, approaching FaceTime and calls and Siri collaborations take on an all-new conservative structure that empowers clients to remain with regards to what they are doing.

iPhone clients will currently have the option to stick discussions to the head of their messages list.

iPhone's LCD panel supplier JDI sees OLED screens sweeping market by 2021

Technology
Japan Display Inc., the struggling supplier of mobile screens to Apple Inc., says it has about a year before it needs to decide on whether to take a plunge on next-generation organic light-emitting diode displays.
While OLED panels are slimmer, more energy-efficient and offer higher contrast, JDI’s liquid crystal displays will retain a price advantage that keeps them competitive in smartphones through 2021, the company’s new Chief Executive Officer Minoru Kikuoka said in an interview. He anticipates a more decisive shift to the new technology may occur in that time period, declining to elaborate on plans of specific customers.
When Apple launched its first OLED iPhone in 2017, it was seen as the beginning of the end for the LCD’s long reign. For Japan Display, which relies on Apple for a large portion of its revenue, that spelled trouble because the company was falling behind in the development of the new screens. But the iPhone X, which used an OLED display from Samsung Electronics Co., didn’t sell as well as anticipated, and Apple followed up a year later with an LCD-based addition to its lineup with the iPhone XR -- giving the Japanese company some breathing room.
With the smartphone market plateauing and fancier screens failing to ratchet up demand from users already content with their existing devices, value for money has once again risen in importance for people considering a new purchase, according to the CEO.

 “We are seeing consumers put more emphasis on affordability when it comes to their smartphone preferences,” Kikuoka said. “The industry is now gaining a new appreciation for the kind of price competitiveness offered by the LCDs.”Apple’s 2019 phone lineup includes one LCD model -- the iPhone 11, which Apple launched at a starting price $50 lower than its predecessor -- and the company plans to add a second one in the first half of next year to replace the aging iPhone 8....Read More

Ravi Shankar Prasad asks Apple, Samsung to help us become e-export hub

International News
IPhone maker Apple and South Korean electronics giant Samsung should work with Indian companies to ensure this country becomes a hub of export for electronics, said Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister for this sector and for information technology.
He suggested Apple expand its manufacturing base in India and use the country as an export hub.At a long meeting with top executives from the industry, Prasad heard them on various issues and said his ministry and NITI Aayog would in the next two to three months work with them on incentives for the sector.
"Apple has started manufacturing phones in India, including components and...have started making iPhones for export...But, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I want a robust presence of Apple in India, a super-robust presence of Samsung in India, and other global companies," he said.
According to Apple, eight of its global suppliers have set up units in India. These being Sunwoda Electronic, Winstron Corporation, CCL Design (Suzhou) Co, Flex, Foxconn, Salcomp and Shenzhen YUTO Packaging Technology. Currently, Apple manufactures iPhones 6S and 7 from India.

 Among companies represented at the meeting were Vivo, Oppo, Qualcomm, Xiaomi, Dell, HP, Bosch, Cisco, Flextronics, Foxconn, Nokia, LG, Panasonic, Intel, Wistron and Sterlite Technologies. The electronics industry body, Manufacturers Association of Information Technology was also present. It recommended production-linked export incentives, leveraging India’s geo-political influence and free trade agreement influence with countries to accept Indian standards as sufficient to access other markets. Also, identification of sub-sectors where India should lead the development of standards, such as 5G, medical electronics, cyber security and data communications...Read More

Apple launches iPhone 11 with first triple camera system for Rs 64900

International News
Technology giant Apple today unveiled the iPhone 11, a new version of the Apple Watch and iPad, announced the first all-original video subscription service and a new gaming service at its flagship fall event in California.
The Tim Cook-led company launched the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, a new pro line for iPhone at the widely-watched event in Cupertino.
The phones come in four finishes including a new midnight green, and will be available for pre-order beginning September 13 and in stores beginning September 20.
The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max will be available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB models starting at USD 999 and USD 1,099, respectively.
"iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are the most powerful and advanced smartphones we have ever made. They are packed with sophisticated technology that pros can count on to get their work done, and for anyone who wants the very best device made, even if they are not a pro," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
"iPhone 11 Pro has the first triple-camera system in iPhone and is far and away the best camera we've ever made, it provides our customers with great range of creative control and advanced photo and video editing features in iOS 13. The Super Retina XDR is the brightest and most advanced display in iPhone and the A13 Bionic chip sets a new bar for smartphone performance and power efficiency," Schiller said.

 iOS 13 will be available on September 19 as a free software update for iPhone 6s and later.Additional software features will be available on September 30 with iOS 13.1, announced Apple...Read More

Apple does a Jio with TV+, offers content subscription at Rs 99 per month

International News

With over 1.4 billion active installed base of devices globally and millions in India - iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, Macs, iPod touch and more - Apple has finally flexed its muscles to take on content streaming giants like Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime and Disney with aggressive pricing, free offers and all-original stories.
The announcement of a much cheaper Apple TV+ subscription than expected (Rs 99 a month in India and $4.99 in the US and other countries) immediately saw shares of Netflix, Disney and Roku tumbling down as Apple, which has nearly $210 billion cash at its disposal, has sensed the mammoth streaming opportunity that lies ahead and is going to open its coffers for creating more originals, even in regional languages.
Indians today spend 30 per cent of their phone time and over 70 per cent of mobile data on entertainment and movies are their preferred choice on smart TV and larger screens.An over-the-top (OTT) viewer in India is spending approximately 70 minutes a day on video streaming platforms, with a consumption frequency of 12.5 times a week, an Eros Now-KPMG report said last week.
When we look at the data consumption, In India, the Internet video traffic is projected to reach 13.5 Exabytes (EB) per month by 2022 -- up from 1.5 EB a month in 2017 -- with video contributing 77 per cent of all Internet traffic by 2022.The opportunities are enormous and Apple TV+ with its large installed device base is smiling at its rivals who lack the vantage point of being in your home in the form of an iphone or iPad.

 "Apple built on their integrated ecosystem advantage by announcing low-monthly pricing for Apple Arcade and Apple TV+, and a free year of Apple TV for a buyer of an Apple device," said Frank Gillett, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester....Read More

Apple to start online sales in India after govt eases local sourcing rules

Current Affairs

Apple Inc is poised to start online sales of its devices in India within months, a person familiar with the matter said, benefiting from new rules making the world’s fastest-growing smartphone market more attractive to foreign brands.
On Wednesday, India eased rules that forced companies such as Apple to source 30% of their production locally -- a requirement the iPhone maker has been lobbying against for years -- to include exports as part of the requirement.
That rule posed a problem for electronics brands because most of its devices and components are manufactured in China. The government also allowed so-called single brand retailers to set up online stores before physical shops.
With escalating trade tensions damaging ties between the US and China, New Delhi’s latest investment rules could provide a boost to Apple, allowing it to grow sales in the country and possibly help it reduce its high dependency on China by building out an alternative supply chain in India.
The Cupertino, Calif-based device and services company will begin selling its iPhone, iPads and Apple Mac computers online in the coming months. It’s also firming up the Mumbai location of its first company-owned brick & mortar store in India -- likely to open next year -- the person said, asking not to be identified as the details are confidential. Selling online will be a big step forward for Apple in a country where counterfeit products abound in online platforms increasing buyers’ distrust.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comments.

 Some of the phone maker’s older devices are assembled by Taiwanese contractor Wistron Corp...Read More

Foreign airlines ban MacBooks on Indian flights; DGCA mulls similar move

Current Affairs

With several international airlines banning some older models of Apple's flagship laptop MacBook Pro in both check-in or hand luggage, including in India, fears of battery fire have returned to haunt users of the device.
In June, Apple announced a voluntary recall of its faulty 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there's a chance that the devices sold between September 2015 and February 2017 could overheat and potentially cause fires.
Seeing this, India is pondering if it should ask the airlines to restrict the affected MacBook Pro models. “The DGCA is examining the issue and if need be, will do the needful,” said a senior official.
Singapore Airlines (SIA), a major operator to India, on Sunday said on its website: "Customers are to refrain from bringing the affected (MacBook Pro) models either as hand-carry or in checked baggage until the battery has been verified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer. Please visit Apple’s MacB ook Pro Battery Recall Program page to get more information on whether your product is affected, as well as on the available battery replacement options." Thai is also not allowing 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks sold between September 2015 and February 2017 on the aircraft either as carry-on or checked luggage.

 The iPhone-maker reportedly said it had received 26 reports of the laptop's battery overheating, with as many as five consumers reporting minor burns and one suffering from smoke inhalation.Nearly 432,000 potentially affected MacBook Pro units were sold in the US and 26,000 in Canada.Apple issued a similar replacement programme last year for the latest 13-inch Pros over issues related to battery expansion...Read More

Apple Arcade: Things to know about world's first game subscription service

Technology News

US-based technology behemoth Apple on March 25 announced Apple Arcade, the world’s first game subscription service for mobile, desktop and the living room. The service that will be launched later this year, will feature over 100 new and exclusive games, including original releases from creators Hironobu Sakaguchi, Ken Wong, Will Wright and dozens more.

Apple Arcade will be launched as a dedicated tab in the App Store. It will have access to a collection of brand new games that will not be available on any other mobile platform or in any other subscription service. Being a game subscription service, the Apple Arcade would give gamers the opportunity to try any game before purchase and get access to the full experience by paying subscription amount, which would include all game features, content and future updates, and no additional in-game purchases.

Every game that will be available in Arcade will support offline play. It will also feature games with support for game controllers. Apple Arcade games would be available across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, allowing gamers to pick up where they left off in a game, even if they switch devices.
The game subscription service will boast a curated list of gaming titles based on originality, quality, creativity, fun and their appeal to players of all ages. Gamers will have the option to try any game from the collection of titles with no ads, ad tracking or additional purchases, and respect to user privacy.


 For Arcade, Apple is not just handpicking the games, but also contributing to the development costs and working closely with creators to bring the games to life. The service will feature games from Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, LEGO, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman, ustwo games and dozens more.

Apple plans to cut back on hiring after selling fewer iPhones than expected

Companies News:

Apple Inc. will cut back on hiring for some divisions after selling fewer iPhones than expected and missing its revenue forecast for the holiday quarter, according to people familiar with the matter.

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive officer, made the disclosure to employees earlier this month in a meeting the day after he penned a letter to investors about the company’s recent struggles, particularly in China. During the meeting, Cook was asked if the company would impose a hiring freeze in response. He said he didn’t believe that was the solution. Instead, Cook said some divisions would reduce hiring, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

ALSO READ: US Court denies Apple's $440-mn appeal against VirnetX in patent case

Cook said he is yet to fully determine which divisions would cut back on hiring, but said that key groups such as Apple’s artificial intelligence team would continue to add new employees at a strong pace. He also emphasized that a division’s importance to Apple’s future isn’t measured by hiring rates...Read More