Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts
Friday, May 22, 2015
Apple Reportedly Launching Larger iPad in October 2014 Larger iPhone in May 2014
Apples large-size tablet will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, and was originally expected to adopt either 12.9- or 13.3-inch panels, with recent rumors indicating that 12.9-inch has a better chance to be picked, the sources noted.
The report also states that Apple is planning to release a larger size iPhone in May 2014, using a 20nm processor manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Reports of a next-generation iPhone featuring a larger screen have surfaced occasionally throughout the past year, while the claim of an A8 processor made by TSMC is follows a report in June stating that the company had struck a three-year deal with Apple to produce A-series chips starting in 2014.
However, a May 2014 release date for the next iPhone would be somewhat of a surprising move by Apple, considering that the most recent reports have stated that the larger-screened iPhone will debut in late 2014. A release then would be in line with the October 2011 launch of the iPhone 4s, the September 2012 launch of the iPhone 5, and the September 2013 launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c.
A report last month from The Korea Times indicated that production of a 12.9-inch Retina Display to be used in a next-generation iPad was already underway at an Apple supplier in Korea, with a target date of early 2014. The larger tablet is also said to carry an improved display nearing ultra high-definition (UHD) quality, which would be significantly bigger and contain more pixels than Apples current 9.7-inch iPad Air.
However, a May 2014 release date for the next iPhone would be somewhat of a surprising move by Apple, considering that the most recent reports have stated that the larger-screened iPhone will debut in late 2014. A release then would be in line with the October 2011 launch of the iPhone 4s, the September 2012 launch of the iPhone 5, and the September 2013 launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c.
A report last month from The Korea Times indicated that production of a 12.9-inch Retina Display to be used in a next-generation iPad was already underway at an Apple supplier in Korea, with a target date of early 2014. The larger tablet is also said to carry an improved display nearing ultra high-definition (UHD) quality, which would be significantly bigger and contain more pixels than Apples current 9.7-inch iPad Air.
Data source: via MacRumors (By Richard Padilla)
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Apple Releases New Update iOS 8 0 1 To Bugs Fixes in HealthKit Keyboards and More The Update Causing Issues Updated
After a week of the release of iOS 8 to the public, Apple today released a new update iOS 8.0.1, which brings several bug fixes to this new operating system. The update arrives as built 12A402.
iOS 8.0.1 can be downloaded over the air, or though iTunes. The update contains a number of fixes for bugs found in the initial release of iOS 8. Fixes have been made to HealthKit, which prevented apps that support HealthKit from being allowed in the App Store, this probleme came to light shortly before the public launch of iOS 8.
Addition to problems with Photo Library, data usage for SMS/MMS messages, issues with 3rd party keyboards have also been addressed, along with problems with uploading photos, videos to Safari and more.
- Fixes a bug so HealthKit apps can now be made available on the App StoreApple promised customers to enable its mobile payment service Apple Pay in October, that through an update to iOS 8, that mean the second update will be likely in the coming weeks.
- Addresses an issue where 3rd party keyboards could become deselected when a user enters their passcode
- Fixes an issue that prevented some apps from accessing photos from the Photo Library
- Improves the reliability of the Reachability feature on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
- Fixes an issue that could cause unexpected cellular data usage when receiving SMS/MMS messages
- Better support of Ask To Buy for Family Sharing for In-App Purchases
- Fixes an issue where ringtones were sometimes not restored from iCloud backups
- Fixes a bug that prevented uploading photos and videos from Safari
Note: Many early installers have complained of this update which caused to cellular service to be disabled, so "No Service" messages after updating. There are also reports of problems with Touch ID.
Update: it seems these issues limited to users who have an iPhone 6 or an iPhone 6 Plus. Apple has pulled iOS 8.0.1 from the Developer Center, it is also no longer available via over the air, Apple said that it was investigating the issue. Later it released a support document confirming that an iOS 8.0.2 update is in the works with a fix.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Apple Releases the Fifth iOS 8 to Developers
iOS 8 beta 5 build 12A4345d is available via Apples over-the-air on iOS devices, the download can also be through the iOS Developer Center wedsite. Apple has also released a new beta software update to Apple TV, which includes a redesigned UI.
Despite the iOS 8s style no differ a lot of iOS 7, but has come with a set of new features and apps like the integration with OS X, Family Sharing features, QuickType, interactive notifications, a Health app, and improvements to several apps like Messages, and Safari.
As its predecessors, iOS 8 beta 5 also contains new features and refinements like new options for SMS Relay and new features in Health, well come to all of these changes in the next post.
So far, iOS 8 is only available to registered developers, the public release expected to be this fall, likely alongside announcement of new iPhone versions, while there is a conflict in news, if iOS 8 beta 5 is the latest beta before the iOS 8 golden version, or well see another beta.
Read also:
- A Comprehensive List of Changes in iOS 8 Beta 4
- A List of User Interface Changes in iOS 8 Beta 3
- Interesting Features and Changes in Both iOS 8 Beta Updates
- Photos App in iOS 8
- iOS 8 Features
- iOS 8 Brings New Option "Send Last Location" To Find My iPhone or iPad
Monday, May 18, 2015
Apple Patent Describes Future Sapphire Glass Uses
Sapphire could be used as a heat spreader
The aperture formed in the substrate may have one or more securing features to help hold the second material within the aperture. For example, the aperture may have one or more tapered sidewalls. Alternatively, or additionally, the aperture may have a notch or step in one or more sidewalls. In still other embodiments, an interior surface of the aperture may be threaded or include a lip or protrusion that serves as a securing feature. It should be appreciated that other securing features may be implemented and, further, that multiple securing features may be used in conjunction.Currently, Apple uses small pieces of sapphire glass to protect the iPhone’s cameras and the home button of the iPhone 5s, which features a fingerprint sensor.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Apple investigating built in solar power converters for iPhone MacBook
Apple already has a number of solar power inventions to its name, but Thursdays filing is one of the first to propose a solution that can be made viable in the near term.
Source: USPTO
As electronics become more powerful with each successive generation, they in turn require more power, which for portables is limited by battery capacities. Apple notes these devices are therefore dependent on availability of mains electricity, or a wall outlet.
There are solutions, such as solar panels, that can add extra juice on the go, but existing tech relies on external circuits to convert solar panel power to a form compatible with electronic devices. More specifically, iPhones and MacBooks accept specific direct current (DC) voltages. While an option, integrated solar panels have proven bulky and the aesthetics may be less than desirable for Apple.
According to the filing, the integrated power management system would include a system micro controller (SMC) and a charger. Power would flow to the system from either an AC-to-DC adapter or directly from a photovoltaic solar panels output, which is DC only, then be measured and converted to the necessary voltage.
In this embodiment, chargers power stage incorporates what is known as a buck converter, or step-down DC-to-DC converter. Incoming power is monitored by a charger IC, converted to an appropriate voltage and fed into either an input current loop, a battery current loop, an output voltage loop, or an input voltage loop to control charging.
The SMC monitors system power metrics like battery charge, health and input power type, among others, and manages the power stage accordingly.
In the case of solar power input, the SMC would track a maximum power point for the panels by any number of methods, including multiplying current with voltage. Once this point is established, SMC sends a signal to the charger IC, which uses the data to adjust a reference voltage for maximum power point tracking (MPPT). This point determines what voltage changes need to be applied to the solar panel input.
Finally, Apple notes that the power management system can accept both solar and mains power simultaneously.
Illustration of power management system with incorporated MPPT.
All processing and adjustments can be accomplished with established techniques and deployed in a reasonably small component package, making the invention suitable for use in iPhones and MacBooks. While solar tech is somewhat of a rarity, the alternative energy solution is becoming more popular with mainstream consumers looking for on-the-go power.
Apples solar power converter patent application was first filed for in 2012 and credits Kisun Lee, Manisha P. Pandya and Shimon Elkayam as its inventors.
Image source: TC
Thursday, May 7, 2015
How to Set Up Apple Pay and How To Use it
What is Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service that lets users make payments at retail and online checkout, the process done just by a simple touch on iPhones Touch ID sensor after you held your device up near a contactless reader. Apple Pay is depending on NFC antenna (Near Field Communication), which is existing in iPhone 6, 6 Plus and upcoming Apple Watch, but the feature will also compatible with iPhone 5, 5s, and 5c, those can exploit the feature through an Apple Watch. In this case a users skin beneath Apple Watch and a PIN code entered when the watch is first put on will be replace the iPhones Touch ID.
How to set up Apple Pay
Once you have installed iOS 8.1, so you can pay with your iPhone, you have to add your credit or debit card to Passbook, that by adding your cards from iTunes account to Passbook by simply entering the card security code, as you can also add new cards by using camera to enter your card information, or type it in manually.
After that, a verification process will begin which usually takes just few seconds for most cards that currently working with Apple Pay, then immediately you can pay with your iPhone. While some cards require other verification steps like phone calls and emails.
By default the first card you add becomes your default payment card, but you can select any other card to be the default from Passbook and Apple Pay Settings, as you can pay with a different card whenever you want through Passbook.
Passbook & Apple Pay section which can be joined from Settings app contains all cards that you have added to Passbook, along with Transaction Defaults like billing address, shipping address, email, and phone number.
When you tap on one of the cards you will get specific information on the card, allowing you to see the last digits of the card number, the last digits of the Device Account Number that replaces the card number in transactions, and contact information for the bank behind the card.
As you can also see a list of recent transactions that you have made with Apple Pay, and with some cards you will also see the transactions made in stores that dont support Apple Pay feature alongside Apple Pay list. You can also from this settings area remove a card from Apple Pay.
How Apple Pay it work
After Apple Pay being set up, now your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus is ready to pay with it within stores without open any app or even to wake display, just hold it near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID. You dont need to look at the iPhones screen to know your payment information was successfully sent, you will know that by a subtle vibration and beep.
How Apple Pay is secure
One other strong point in Apple Pay in addition to its simplicity, is its security, so your credit card that you add in Passbook will store in the Secure Element, with other generated and encrypted codes.
Every time you hand over your credit or debit card to pay, your card number and identity are visible. With Apple Pay, instead of using your actual credit and debit card numbers when you add your card to Passbook, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted, and securely stored in the Secure Element, a dedicated chip in iPhone. These numbers are never stored on Apple servers. And when you make a purchase, the Device Account Number, along with a transaction-specific dynamic security code, is used to process your payment. So your actual credit or debit card numbers are never shared by Apple with merchants or transmitted with payment.Once your iPhone is ever lost or stolen, in this case you can use Find My iPhone feature to suspend Apple Pay, that through put it in Lost Mode or wipe your iPhone clean completely, without needing to cancel your credit cards.
Up to now Apple Pay only work in the United States, though Apple plans to expand to other countries. According to Apple, Apple Pay initially will work with more than 220,000 participating vendors that support contactless payments, including department stores Macys and Bloomingdales, restaurants Subway and McDonalds, drugstores Walgreens and Duane Reade, and other retailers including Target and Whole Foods. Apple Pay also works for purchases made in participating apps like Uber, Groupon, Panera Bread, and Apples own Apple Store app.
Sources: Wikipedia, Apple, MacRumors
Read also:
- A Comprehensive List of iOS 8 Hidden Features and Changes and how Can Be Accessed
- How to Use Find My iPhone Pre and After the Losing of Your iPhone or iPad
- Take a Look of New Features in New Apple Products; iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Pay, and Apple Watch
- Photos App in iOS 8
- iOS 8 Brings New Option "Send Last Location" To Find My iPhone or iPad
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Apple will unveil the next iPad generation on October 22nd
The date has been revealed by AllThingsD and the keynote should be invitation-only.
Of course, the iPad Mini 2013 and iPad 2013 are to be expected.
Both should at least sports the TouchID feature and have smaller bezels (especially for the 9.7" iPad). There are still doubts towards the Mini and a possible Retina Display. There are some conflicted reports about that but we are sure waiting for a answer from Apple to the Nexus 7 (2013).
Apple won’t be shutting down Beats Music may alter the brand in future
There was news recently of Apple shutting down the Beats Music streaming service shortly after it was acquired. One would assume Apple might want to do that since Beats Music competed against Apple’s own iTunes, and was also available on Android.
That doesn’t seem to be the case, however. According to Re/code, who spoke with Apple PR and its sources, Apple isn’t shutting down Beats Music any time soon. However, the Beats Music brand might change over time.This means the Beats Music name could likely go away in future and the service might just get rebranded as iTunes streaming service. But as of now and the foreseeable future, the service will continue to operate, despite the fact that it’s not enormously popular.
Friday, April 3, 2015
And One More Thing Did Apple Nail or Fail the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch Launch
On Tuesday, in a product launch that was heralded by as much hype as any major Hollywood movie release, Apple launched two updates to its iconic iPhone lineup andan all-new watch.
Are these new devices going to be successes? In the quarter that ended June 28, Applesold 35.2 million iPhones, an increase of nearly 13 percent over the same period a year earlier, and some analysts were still disappointed with this number. Its safe to assume that Apple will sell millions of the new devices as soon as they launch, but even the Transformers franchise keeps making money, and thats definitely not because each successive film has been better than the last one.
Theres a renewed sense of belief in Apple these days - after Tim Cook took over the company there years ago there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth as people declared that Apple could never survive without Steve Jobs. Whether its through the careful timing of leaks, or because of the way news cycles work, the public conversation this year has been built around the notion that were back in 2007, with Steve Jobs introducing the iPhone for the first time.
(Also see: Apple Is Back, Better Than Ever)
But when you look at the actual details of Apples new products, the announcements seem to lose a little sheen. The switch from the 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5s to the new 4.7-inch size is a big jump - even more so than the jump from 3.5 inches to 4 inches between the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. But the jump to the even bigger iPhone 6 Plus with a 5.5-inch screen is tremendous, and that device also has a correspondingly higher resolution: a full-HD 1080x1920-pixel screen.
The larger sized iPhones are a clear indication that the company is trying to play catch-up. After years of stubbornly insisting that its screens were the perfect size for human hands, Apple seems to have realised that humans have two hands and are willing to use them both to hand over money to companies selling phablets. Apples famously rigid product lines are becoming fragmented, and this shouldnt necessarily be seen as a win for the company. It does mean that Apple is willing to be more flexible than before, but it also means that its image and its trademark simplicity are being diluted.
The new sizes are the most visible changes for the phones, but internal components have also moved forward in expected ways. The camera still takes 8-megapixel photos, though theres an all-new, improved sensor at its heart. Even though Apple was able to get great results from the iPhone 5s, competitors cameras have been getting better and better too.
The much expected "iWatch", revealed finally to be the Apple Watch is also, as expected, a comprehensive health and fitness companion device. There is a lot to choose from in terms of straps and body materials, so buyers will be able to make their watch look fairly unique. So far, reactions have been mixed.
(Also see: Apple Watch Leaves Fashion World Divided)
The watch itself does not have the discreet style of the Moto 360, but instead stands out as a very obvious gadget. Couple that with possibly disappointing battery life, and the Apple Watch starts to lose a little sheen.
To give credit where it is due, though, Apple has come up with an interesting new way to interact with the device; a physical crown that can be used to scroll and zoom around the interface, which looks a lot like the crowns used to set the time on older mechanical watches. This is a fairly natural way of interacting with a wrist-worn device, and is easier than trying to perform gestures on a small screen.
Of course, the Apple Watch also comes with the famous Apple Tax - it will be priced starting at $349, making it substantially more expensive than alternatives such as the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch, and even the Moto 360.
Unlike the iPhone in 2007, when Apple could dramatically reimagine the smartphone (and the entire computing experience), the Apple Watch will be making its debut in a market that has already had over a year to coalesce. Apple will find itself playing catch-up yet again, but this time its starting at a disadvantage in a crowded market defined by pre-existing platform loyalties, and with a variety of competitors who have already established themselves at lower price points.
We wouldnt call the launch a complete bust, and we can be certain that the new devices will sell in massive quantities. But the pundits who have stated that Tuesdays launch heralds a new Apple that is still as revolutionary as it was in 2007 might be overstating the case.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Apple is hiring fashion experts to sell the Apple Watch
The Apple Watch was introduced last September, but it was only that, a presentation, the team does not hit stores until early 2015. Everything points to a release in late February and Apple are preparing everything to make sale its new and awaited clock. The Cupertino has approached the idea of wearable or smart watch a different way to other brands. The Apple brand is clear that a watch, for more advanced or intelligent, does not cease to be a fashion. Under this idea have created a device that combines technology and design, maximum found in any Apple product, but it takes on new meaning with Apple Watch. We saw the approach to the fashion industry when Apple specialized media invited to the presentation and now 9to5mac says the company is planning to hire experts in luxury and fashion products to sell Apple Watch in Apple stores.
The Apple Watch is the most personal Apple product, the advice of your slogan. The US Company would be finalizing preparations for the arrival of your new watch stores worldwide. According to some internal documents procurement, Apple seek employees with knowledge of fashion and luxury products that advise customers to choose the model that best suits your style and needs. In addition, it is expected that much of the stores dedicated to expose the Apple Watch, with special windows to expose the product in different combinations. There is also talk that there would be some watches test subjects for a security cable, while the rest of combinations would be displayed in a special showcase. Lots of variety in the Apple Watch, but the choice of the windows would have more to do with wanting to prevent theft. There is talk that Apple Watch Edition will cost $ 5,000, a high price for a small product that we can hide in a pocket, hence place to be protected behind glass.
Within a few months we will see the changes brought the Apple Watch store network in the company on the block, but what is clear is that the product will be closely linked to the fashion industry. Watch Apple already cast on the cover of the Chinese edition of Vogue and released in the fashion week in Paris. Apple offers the device in two sizes and three different materials. In turn, each material has two finishes and there are a variety of belts. In total, you can create up to 64 combinations without straps Watch Apple Sport colors. The device features a special interface that can be operated via touch screen and digital lateral crown, a piece reminiscent of traditional clocks and allow us to move more freely through the menus.
Apple is hiring fashion experts to sell the Apple Watch
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
apple iphone 6 full specs
- 2G Network: available.
- 3G Network: available.
- 4G Network: available.
- SIM: Nano-SIM
- Announced on september 2014.
- Availability: released.
- Dimensions:138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 in).
- Weight: 129 g (4.55 oz).
- - Fingerprint sensor (Touch ID)
- Screen Type: LED-backlit IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
- Screen Size: 750 x 1334 pixels, 4.7 inches (~326 ppi pixel density)
- Multitouch: available.
- Protection: Shatter proof glass, oleophobic coating.
- Card slot: not available.
- Internal storage: 16/64/128 GB, 1 GB RAM.
- Internet Speed: HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; EV-DO Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL.
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Bluetooth: v4.0, A2DP.
- NFC: available.
- USB: v2.0.
- Primary camera: 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, 1.5µm pixel size, geo-tagging, simultaneous HD video and image recording, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization, panorama, HDR.
- Video: 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps.
- Secondary camera: 1.2 MP, 720p, burst, HDR.
- Operating system: iOS 8.
- Chipset Apple A8
- CPU :Dual-core 1.4 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based).
- GPU: PowerVR GX6650 (hexa-core graphics).
- Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
- Non-removable Li-Po battery
- Stand-by: Up to 250 h.
- Talk time: Up to 14 h.
- Music play: Up to 50 h.
Apple toying with different charging methods for iWatch
Whenever Apple announces that they’re working on a new product, the rumors begin to run rampant and fly all over the place, and Apple’s planned piece of wearable tech, the “iWatch”, is no different.
Well the New York Times has a bit of information that might make the “iWatch” more attractive to consumers, and it has to do with how the device will be charged.
It’s been reported that Apple has been toying with the idea of inductive charging for their smartwatch; which is the ability to charge a device without having to plug it in. This is nothing new in the world of cell phones, and has been around since the Palm Pre.
There have also been whispers that Apple will be toying with the idea of adding solar layers to their iWatch, for sun-powered charging, and also allowing the device to charge from kinetic movements, which is already implemented in a lot of (non-smart) watches today.
Do you think that Apple will incorporate any or all of this tech into their smartwatch? It will certainly be a selling point if they do.
Well the New York Times has a bit of information that might make the “iWatch” more attractive to consumers, and it has to do with how the device will be charged.It’s been reported that Apple has been toying with the idea of inductive charging for their smartwatch; which is the ability to charge a device without having to plug it in. This is nothing new in the world of cell phones, and has been around since the Palm Pre.
There have also been whispers that Apple will be toying with the idea of adding solar layers to their iWatch, for sun-powered charging, and also allowing the device to charge from kinetic movements, which is already implemented in a lot of (non-smart) watches today.
Do you think that Apple will incorporate any or all of this tech into their smartwatch? It will certainly be a selling point if they do.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Future Apple Watch models will reportedly pack more built in sensors
Despite the fact that the Apple Watch is yet to arrive, rumors about its successor already began circulating. According to a report by Reuters, future iterations of the wearable device will pack more sensors.
Citing people familiar with Apple’s plans, the report reveals that future iterations of the device will offer richer health features. Apple Watch is currently set to measure activity via the iPhone’s Wi-Fi and GPS.
The wearable has a built-in heart rate sensor, though its presence is hardly ground breaking. It was widely expected that Cupertino’s newest product will truly stand out with its health and fitness features, especially after Apple launched HealthKit earlier this year.
I reckon that Apple has a way to go in getting the first generation of its timepiece onto the hands of customers before thinking how to pack its successor with more sensors. We are yet to find out vital facts about the Apple Watch, headed by its battery life. The latter is currently rumored to be about a day.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Fourth generation Apple iPad has quad core PowerVR SGX 554 GPU
Fourth-generation Apple iPad has quad-core PowerVR SGX 554 GPU, Apple has touted the fourth-generation Apple iPad as being twice as fast as the previous model. At the heart of that claim is the A6X chip which is 30% larger than the A6 inside the Apple iPhone 5. To illustrate the difference, the GFlops score for the newer iPad at 300MHz doubled to 76.8 the 38.4 scored by the third-generation model. GFlops is a unit of computing capacity representing 1 billion floating point operations per second.
So what did Apple do with that extra space it added to the A6? It went to an extra graphics processing core of which there are now 4 on the chip, up from the 3 on the A6. While the CPU size remains the same on the two, the GPU cores are larger on the A6X. Not only that, but when looked at through a microscope, the 4 GPU cores are divided into 9 sub-cores, two sets of 4 and 1 central sub-core.
One analyst says this could be done for better parallel processing, or for a faster clock speed. Either way, he says that graphic speed will be blazing on the fourth-generation iPad thanks to the PowerVR SGX 554 GPU in the A6X. The chip also has double the SDRAM interface of the A6. All together, it sounds like Apple has really beefed up its full-sized tablet in time for the holiday shopping season.
source: Chipworks via AppleInsider
Via: Phonearena
WeChat Helps Apple Rack Up Bonus Points in China
Apple Inc has a lot for which to thank people like Deng.
A Beijing-based quality analyst, she gave only her surname as shes embarrassed by how much money she spends playing mobile games on WeChat, a hugely popular messaging app developed by Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd.
"The most expensive time was when I spent 68 yuan ($11.08) on a leopard on Tiantiankupao," said Deng, an avid iPhone user, referring to Tencents hit game - called Timi Run Everyday in English - where characters run through obstacle courses. Having a leopard as a pet gives the characters extra power, helping players beat their friends.
Deng and tens of millions like her have made China Apples third-largest market for software sales, and a huge chunk of that comes through WeChat. Known locally as Weixin, WeChat had 438 million monthly active users globally, mostly in China, at the end of June, and has rapidly evolved from a messaging tool into a digital Swiss Army knife, allowing users to send messages, play games, book taxis and shop online.
The app has proved a winning formula in getting people in China, a market notorious for not paying for software, to connect their bank accounts with their phones and pay for virtual goods like extra lives and power-ups in mobile games.
Apple takes a 30 percent cut on all sales.
"Were seeing some substantial strength there," Apple CEO Tim Cook said of China in a July earnings call. "The thing thats actually growing the most is the iTunes, Software and Services category, which has the App Store in it. That area is almost doubling year over year."
Apples Greater China revenues, which include Hong Kong and Taiwan, soared 28 percent in April-June from a year earlier to $5.9 billion, and globally, iTunes, Software and Services sales were the companys second-fastest growing product category, up 12 percent year-on-year to $4.5 billion.
Tencent was the top game publisher for Apples iOS operating system in China by revenue for both June and July, according to App Annie, a company that measures app usage. Apple is this week expected to launch its new iPhone - with a gamer-friendly larger screen.
"A very virtuous cycle"
Apple makes all software sales on the iPhone go through its App Store. Typically, the Cupertino, California-based company will take its 30 percent of the sales, while the rest goes to an apps developer or publisher.
WeChat, which itself hosts apps and games made by other developers, is no different. The cash from any products sold on the app are split between Apple, Tencent and the developer.
"By far the biggest factor driving App Store revenue in China is WeChat," said Ben Thompson, who writes about technology at stratechery.com. "WeChat has driven app download and usage, which drives people to want to buy stuff, which drives them to connect their payment information. Its been a very virtuous cycle."
Growth has also been helped by increased smartphone sales since China Mobile, the countrys largest carrier, began offering the iPhone in January.
A big part of WeChats success has been with casual games - highly addictive hits like Candy Crush Saga and Temple Run that are often free to download but let users pay for in-game upgrades. WeChat has its own stable of games, and also publishes Candy Crush in China.
Games integrated with WeChat and Tencents other mobile social network, Mobile QQ, generated revenues of 3 billion yuan ($489 million) for Tencent in April-June, up from around 1.8 billion yuan in January-March.
"If you look at whos playing Temple Run and Candy Crush, a lot of these were non-gamers five years ago," said Junde Yu, App Annies vice president of Asia Pacific. "With the advent of smartphones, the ease of use, they started to download apps, and because theyre very casual and fun they start playing games. It hooks them and encourages them to start making payments."
Repeat purchases
China is unique in another way that helps push up spending on smartphones.
Both Apple and Tencent have tried to drive the adoption of mobile payments on their platforms, but Chinas banking payment system is complex at best, and makes it difficult to carry out any kind of online payment with ease.
Apple uses a top-up system for its App Store in China, with a 50 yuan ($8.15) minimum value, said Yu - for those using Chinas national bank card payment network rather than international credit cards. "This leads to a lot of repeat purchases as people arent likely to spend 50 yuan on one purchase," Yu said. "After the first time, they wont stop but will keep purchasing and playing games."
iPhone users themselves are a big draw for app developers, and some value them more highly than people using smartphones operating on Google Incs Android system.
"Id pay six times the price for an iOS user compared to Android," said Peng Tao, chief executive of breadtrip, a Beijing-based travel app. Part of the reason, in China at least, is that Androids Google Play app store isnt accessible, so dozens of smaller, less curated app stores have sprung up.
"On the iOS App Store front page apps are chosen by merit, whereas in China for Android theyre chosen by who pays," said Peng. "Android users just like to download things, no matter the need. They see its free and download it, so they shift apps quickly - download and delete, download and delete."
Uneasy allies?
For Apple, though, WeChat may turn out to be a Trojan horse.
While the U.S. company is earning good money through WeChats success, there is some concern that Tencent may want Apple to see less of that.
"WeChat made the market, Apple didnt, and its becoming so powerful on mobile in China that, broadly speaking, its a threat to Apple," said stratechery.coms Thompson. "If Tencent want to flex their muscles and keep more of that revenue, I could certainly see them leaning on the government to help them and keep a bigger percentage of the sales theyre driving."
Chinas ruling Communist Party is no stranger to heavy-handed regulation. Last week, a U.S. business lobby said foreign companies are increasingly concerned they are being targeted by Chinese regulators, charges the regulators deny.
Apple itself has repeatedly come under fire from Chinese state media - more frequently since former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowdensrevelations about U.S. government cyber-espionage conducted through private companies including Apple, Google and Microsoft Corp.
In July, Chinas state broadcaster branded the iPhone a national security threatbecause of its ability to track and time-stamp user locations, and government mouthpieces have called for severe punishment, accusing Apple of providing user data to U.S. intelligence agencies.
Some of WeChats rivals in messaging apps have also fallen by the wayside in China because of the government.
Chinese authorities said in August they blocked South Korean firm Kakao CorpsKakaoTalk and Naver Corps Line as part of efforts to fight terrorism, according to the Korean government, explaining service disruptions in China that had begun a month earlier.
"The biggest danger for Apple in China is always the uncertain regulatory environment," said stratechery.coms Thompson. "Its very plausible to see the government moving against Apples App Store policy."
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Samsung accuses Apple of copying Galaxy Note series – NU nl
In a promotional video Samsung shows some posts on social media where people suggest that Samsung has already released called ‘phablets’ on the market.
The video also shows a few reviews of the first Galaxy Note. The screen of 5.3 inches was seen as huge and critics wrote among other things that “you look like you’re talking into a piece of toast.”
“Now [the big screen] is not rejected by competitors. It is imitated,” said Samsung in the video.
Immediately after the launch of the iPhone 6 placed Samsung has also been a series of videos which shows was how two employees of an Apple Store, the new Galaxy Note 4 compared with the iPhone 6
Check out our video hands-on with the Note 4
First impression:. Larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Apple celebrates 30 years of Macs in a creative way
Apple is celebrating 30 years since the creation of the Mac lineup of computers. Before Apple was synonymous with the iPod, iPad and iPhone Macs were the reason the company survived. Well that and Steve Jobs’ relentlessness.
In honor of the 30th anniversary Apple has created a whole subsection of its website dubbed 30-years which focuses on people whose lives were influenced by the Mac. Various artists, musician Moby, designers and many more, each representing a different year and subsequent Mac device.Here’s the video itself. You can also tell Apple what your first Mac was and what you’ve used it for. And there’s a nifty breakdown of Macs taken from user submissions.
Apple to allegedly have an event on October 16 for iPad Mac and Yosemite
It hasn’t been long since Apple’s September event for the new iPhones but Apple will be holding another event this month, according to Re/code. This event will concentrate on Apple’s other major products, namely the iPad, the Mac, and the OS X operating system.
According to 9to5Mac, the event will be held at Town Hall in Apple’s Campus. This is a much smaller venue and will allow fewer people to attend.
Apple is expected to announce the new iPad Air, which will be thinner, faster, and will have the Touch ID sensor. It is also said to be available in gold. There is also expected to be an update to the iMac and the Mac mini, which haven’t been updated in a while. OS X Yosemite will also be made available for download.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)