Apple's new iPhone to take longer to reach customers - analysts

Apple Inc's customers will have to wait for a few more weeks to lay their hands on the new iPhone 13 as supply chain delays and strong demand lead to one of the longest waiting times for the phone in recent years, analysts said.

The delivery time for Apple's iPhones after a new launch is watched by analysts as one of the measures to gauge demand for the flagship phone's newest model. But this year, it is also shining a light on supply chain issues plaguing technology companies ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Analysts at J.P.Morgan and Credit Suisse said customers across the world who had pre-ordered the new models online would have to wait more than four weeks for the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max and about 2 weeks for the base iPhone 13.

In the United States, which accounts for over a third of iPhone shipments, the delivery time for the iPhone 13 series was 19 to 34 days in the second week, compared with 7 to 20 days in the first week, both greater than the lead times for the iPhone 12 Series.

Apple was not immediately available to comment on the delays in delivery times.

"While admittedly part of the expansion in the lead times is on account of the supply chain constraints, we still find the material increase in the lead time in Week 2 relative to Week 1 as an indicator of the robust demand for upgrades, likely exceeding low investor expectations into the launch," J.P.Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee said.

Apple's partners Verizon, Vodafone UK and Best Buy cited high demand and product supply issues in replies to customers on Twitter. Many users on social media also flagged the delays.

"With a delay on the delivery for iPhone 13 pro max I might as well cancel! They talking (about until) October 30th," one user said on Twitter.

On Sunday, several Apple and Tesla Inc suppliers suspended production at some Chinese factories for a number of days to comply with tighter energy consumption policies, putting supply chains at risk in the peak season for electronics goods.

The iPhone 13, priced between $699 and $1,599, comes with a sharper camera, a new bionic chip and improved connectivity. It has been available for pre-booking since Sept. 17. 

(Reporting by Aniruddha Ghosh and Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) 

-reuters-

App store antics: Legal screws tighten for Google, Apple

PARIS - David Barnard owes his entire livelihood to Apple.

In 2008, he sold his car to start a company building apps for the fledgling iPhone. He's since found success making what he self-deprecatingly calls "boring" apps, including ones that check the weather or help drivers monitor their gas use.

But his conflicting feelings sum up a growing debate -- playing out in courts and parliaments around the world -- over whether both Apple and Google are abusing their monopoly over the app market. 

In a world first, South Korean MPs passed a law Tuesday banning the two tech giants from forcing app developers to use their payment systems.

Until now, those restrictions have allowed Apple to take a cut of up to 30 percent from payments made inside apps downloaded via the App Store, and Google to do the same through its Play Store. 

The tech giants, whose operating systems run on 99 percent of the world's smartphones, have argued this is fair recompense for providing the platforms that allow apps to be downloaded in the first place.

And to some extent, Barnard agrees. "Apple enabled me to build a business, which I'm incredibly grateful for," he said from his home in Texas. "But it comes with some pretty big trade-offs."

Barnard said he had witnessed frustrating cases of companies building clever apps, only for Apple to release similar features that work better with the phone's technology "in ways that developers can't compete with".

And with tens of billions of dollars floating through Apple and Google's payment systems as apps become increasingly integrated into people's shopping and entertainment habits, the commission charges have come in for particularly fierce opposition.

EPIC LEGAL BATTLES 

The fees are at the heart of a bitter lawsuit between Apple and Epic Games, maker of the phenomenally successful video game Fortnite.

The game lets players spend real money on digital items like clothing and weapons. It sounds frivolous, but the trial revealed that this translated to at least $100 million collected by Apple. 

Furious over these lost profits, Epic is also suing both Apple and Google in Australia and has filed complaints with EU and UK competition authorities, in what competition lawyer Pierre Zelenko described as a "worldwide battle" against the tech giants.

"They're piling on the pressure on multiple fronts to have more chances of a recognized authority coming out in their favor," the Linklaters lawyer said. 

Epic are not the only challengers taking on the app market overlords.

In July, 37 US states banded together to sue Google, alleging that the Play Store represents an illegal monopoly.

They claim Google used various strategies to prevent viable competitors to the Play Store emerging, including offering to pay Samsung to make its Galaxy Store less appealing. 

Consumers are meanwhile waging class actions against both companies in the US and UK, while France's competition authority has joined forces with an alliance of start-ups to take Apple to court.

'TOXIC MESS'

Analysts say the new South Korean law could set a precedent as US and European lawmakers debate similar proposals to ban tech giants from forcing customers to use their app stores and payment systems. 

Both Apple and Google have sought to fend of criticism that its hefty fees strangle smaller businesses, by taking a reduced 15 percent from companies earning less than $1 million a year from app sales.

Last week, Apple also proposed a settlement to a class action that would see it pay $100 million to smaller developers like Barnard. 

The offer "clarified" the company's policies to state that developers can use information collected inside apps -- like customers' email addresses -- to tell them about payment efforts that don't involve handing money to Apple.

But developers have complained that the changes are much less radical than Apple claims.

"I've finally come to the conclusion that it's going to take regulation to get Apple to do right by developers and ultimately customers," Barnard said. 

Both tech giants have argued that their stores help consumers by vetting apps, offering better security and privacy. 

Without the App Store, Apple chief Tim Cook told the Epic trial, the app marketplace would be "a toxic kind of mess". 

Barnard broadly agrees that Apple's system makes life easier for consumers, and that it's entitled to reward itself for that.

But he also thinks the vast amounts the company is paying itself are untenable.

"It's time for Apple to rethink how much they charge," he said.

Agence France-Presse

Facebook out to loosen Apple's grip on App Store: report

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Facebook is readying a lawsuit aimed at loosening Apple's grip on the App Store that serves as an exclusive gateway onto iPhones, a tech news outlet reported on Thursday.

The leading social network is preparing an anti-trust civil suit accusing Apple of abusing its control of the App Store by requiring outside developers to abide by rules not applied to its own software, The Information reported.

"As we have said repeatedly, we believe Apple is behaving anti-competitively by using their control of the App Store to benefit their bottom line at the expense of app developers and small businesses," Facebook told AFP, declining to confirm or deny the report.

Apple did not reply to a request for comment.

The dispute between the tech giants centers on changes in the latest version of Apple's iOS operating software, which include a tracking transparency feature that Facebook claims will cripple its ability to serve up targeted ads.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said during a conference call with investors on Wednesday that Apple was becoming one of his company's biggest competitors.

"Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own," Zuckerberg said.

"Apple may say that they're doing this to help people but the moves clearly track their competitive interests."

Facebook is not alone among those complaining about how Apple rules the App Store, where it collects 30 percent of sales or subscription fees third-party offerings.

Some developers say Apple takes too big a bite of the revenue and maintains rigid policies that may hamstring services competing with those of the iPhone maker. Fortnite-maker Epic Games has taken Apple to court over the practice.

Apple has argued its App Store delivers billions to independent developers, and that its practices are reasonable compared with other digital marketplaces.

Agence France-Presse

Apple announces 'speed' event next week; new iPhones expected

Apple Inc said on Tuesday it would hold a special event on Oct. 13, which most analysts believe will be used to unveil new iPhones with 5G capabilities.

Apple hinted at new, faster networking capabilities in the invitation for the event, which read: "Hi, Speed."

In years past, Apple has announced new iPhones in mid-September and started shipping them to customers before the end of the month. Financial analysts use the number of weeks that Apple has iPhones on sale to help model their predictions for the company's financial results during the holiday shopping season in Western markets, typically Apple's largest sales quarter.

This year, however, Apple executives had warned investors that new iPhones were not likely to ship until October. Apple held an event in September to introduce new Apple Watch and iPad models.

Analysts expect Apple to show a new version of the iPhone with 5G connectivity at the event. Analysts have also highlighted possible new AirPods over-ear wireless headphones and tags for finding lost items using wireless signals.

Apple shares have soared this year even as the coronavirus has crippled economies around the world, thanks in large part to booming sales of work-from-home items.

Even though Apple stock has fallen from a record high on Sept. 2, it remains near a $2 trillion stock market valuation. 

-reuters-

Apple bundles TV, music, news and more in services push

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple on Tuesday said it is putting TV, music, news and more in a subscription bundle as it increases its push into services tied to its iPhone "ecosystem."

An Apple One bundle to be available later this year will start at $15 monthly and include a freshly launched fitness service tied to Apple Watch.

The Silicon Valley titan made no mention of a keenly anticipated iPhone 5G considered vital to the company's fortunes, with analysts expecting that debut next month, due to disruption in production caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The subscription bundle highlights Apple's efforts to put more emphasis on digital content and services amid a sluggish global smartphone market.

The $15 Apple One bundle includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, the Apple Arcade game service and iCloud storage. A $20 family plan can be shared by up to six people.

An upgraded $30 bundle adds Apple Fitness+, Apple News+ and additional cloud storage.

"With Apple One, you can access the best of Apple entertainment across all your favorite devices with one simple subscription," said Apple senior vice president of internet software and services Eddy Cue.

The Fitness+ service introduced by Apple is tied to its smartwatch line-up, which was enhanced with a Watch SE at $279, a price lower than that of its flagship wrist devices.

Apple also unveiled its Series 6 smartwatch, starting at $399, and added new features including monitoring sleep and blood oxygen levels as well as detecting when wearers are washing their hands.

"Handwashing detective recognizes the motion and sound when washing your hands and encourages you to continue for the recommended 20 seconds," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said during a presentation streamed from the company's spaceship campus in Silicon Valley.

Apple touched on roles its smartwatch, services and iPad in working or learning remotely and staying healthy as the pandemic continues to disrupt people's lives.

Apple Watch also serves as an anchor to the tech giant's mobile software, since it syncs with the iPhone.

"The key part for Apple is to keep the base of iPhone users and sell them a ton of accessories like AirPods and get services," said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights and Strategy.

Apple also announced its eighth-generation iPad with its A12 Bionic chip starting at just $329, and a more powerful iPad Air from $499 with powered by the A14 Bionic chip.

Agence France-Presse

Apple’s app war needs peace

Your tween might be freaking out that she can’t play a new “Fortnite” video game on her iPhone. Or maybe you’ve heard that Spotify, Tinder, Facebook and a small email company are fuming about how Apple treats their apps.

Apple has an iron grip on what apps people can download on their iPhones, and some app makers are complaining loudly about this arrangement as well as the fees that Apple collects from some apps.

This feels like an intractable standoff, with app users caught in the middle. But there are nuts-and-bolts changes that Apple could make to tackle the bureaucracy, unpredictability and unfairness of the app world.

These changes won’t end all of these conflicts, which are starting to deprive people of apps or make them confusing and expensive to use. But the app system could be made better even without a truce.

I asked for ideas on how Apple could improve the app store from Jacob Eiting, a founder of RevenueCat, which helps app makers design in-app purchases and knows what drives developers crazy.

Specify how developers can fix rejected apps: 

Apple says yes or no to each new iPhone app or app update, based on the company’s 12,700-word app rule book — not including addendums.

Eiting said developers sometimes get rejection letters that simply recite a portion of Apple’s rules. He said it would be more helpful if Apple’s staff offered specific suggestions for what developers could change — sometimes as minor as tweaking a menu — to get the app approved.

Improve Apple’s payments technology:

Eiting said it could take weeks or longer for app makers to write software that links their app to Apple’s proprietary system for people to pay for stuff with a fingerprint or face scan. Creating software hookups with other payments technology is much simpler, he said.

Clarify the gray zone:

Apple has two categories of app purchases: When you buy something virtual, like an e-book, Apple collects from the app maker a fee of up to 30 percent on the purchase. When you buy something to use in the real world, like a physical book or an Uber ride, Apple doesn’t charge a fee.

But an increasing number of apps offer services that are somewhere between real and virtual — personal training or cooking classes conducted over an app, for example.

Eiting said Apple needed to clarify when the company would assess commissions on apps that offer these hybrid activities. Confusion over this question is stopping some apps before they even start, he said.

Consider an independent app review:

There are inevitable questions about conflict of interest between app makers and Apple’s own apps that compete with them. The founders of Blix, an email app maker that has fought with Apple, suggested to me that Apple create an independent app review process to make sure it isn’t unfairly punishing rival apps.

Apple has in the past made changes to its app system to respond to developers’ complaints, and the company told me it’s always open to more. Any tweaks, though, won’t go as far as some app makers want: essentially, to blow up Apple’s control over what apps are allowed on people’s iPhones.

But it’s still possible to revamp the app system in ways that could bring more calm for Apple, developers and our smartphone-dependent lives.

-Shira Ovide, The New York Times-

Users of some iPhones, iPads urged to update OS to avoid issues

MANILA—Apple said its users must update their iPhone or iPad operating system to the latest version to avoid issues with GPS location and other functions.

The company said some iPhone and iPad models introduced in 2012 and earlier will require an iOS update to maintain the accuracy of their GPS location.

"This is due to the GPS time rollover issue that began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019. Affected Apple devices are not impacted until just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019," Apple said in its official website.

The software update must be done before midnight UTC on Nov. 3, or 8 a.m., Sunday, Manila time.

The updated software version number should be iOS 10.3.4 for iPhone 5 and iPad (4th generation, Wi-Fi + Cellular) and iOS 9.3.6 for iPhone 4s, iPad mini (1st generation, Wi-Fi + Cellular), iPad 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (CDMA models only) and iPad (3rd generation, Wi-Fi + Cellular).

The issue does not affect iPod touch and any Wi-Fi only iPad models. Devices newer than those mentioned are likewise not affected by the GPS issue.

Apple said users of iPhone 5 are required to update their device's software to maintain accurate GPS location, as well as to continue using functions that rely on correct date and time, including App Store, iCloud, email, and web browsing. 

Those who will fail to update the software in their iPhone 5 would have to back-up and restore their devices using a computer, as over-the-air software and iCloud Backup will not work beyond said date.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Google takes on Apple Arcade with mobile game service

SAN FRANCISCO - Google on Monday unveiled a subscription service for games and apps on Android-powered mobile devices in a direct challenge to Apple Arcade.

Google Play Pass promised access to hundreds of "awesome" games free of ads or hawked virtual wares at the same $4.99 monthly subscription price as that of the Arcade service Apple launched last week for iOS devices.

"The Play Pass collection spans hundreds of titles, from games that help you unwind to apps that power productivity," Google product manager Austin Shoemaker said in an online post.

"Play Pass is coming to Android devices in the US this week, and we'll be bringing it to additional countries soon."

Some of the game titles included in the launch will be Terraria, Monument Valley, Risk and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

It will also include apps such as Accuweather which are free of in-app purchases, upfront payments or advertising.

Google said it will add new games and apps to the service each month. The internet giant also enticed people with a temporary offer to let them subscribe at a reduced price for the first year.

"Play Pass helps encourage people to try new experiences they would not have otherwise," said Maria Sayans, chief executive of Monument Valley maker Ustwo games.

Play Pass was announced just days after the launch of Apple Arcade, which rides a trend of video games played by subscribers instead of purchased as downloads or disks.

Apple Arcade offers unlimited access for a flat monthly price to more than 100 exclusive games uninterrupted by ads or the hawking of virtual goods.

Arcade, and now Play Pass, fit into a subscription model that is gaining traction, according to analysts.

gc/rl

source: news.abs-cbn.com

As iPhone sales sputter, Apple moves toward reinvention, again

WASHINGTON - With its latest financial results, Apple is showing it can move beyond the iPhone with gadgets and services that can help the California tech giant weather the slumping smartphone market.

In the just-ended quarter, Apple took in less than half its revenue from the iPhone, the longtime cash and profit driver for the company, representing a milestone for the company.

Apple managed to grow its overall revenues, albeit by a modest 1 percent, to $53.8 billion, even as iPhone revenues plunged nearly 12 percent in the April-June period.

The company delivered strong growth from digital content and services that include its Apply Pay and Apple Music, along with wearables and accessories like the Apple Watch and Air Pods.

Apple is preparing to launch its branded credit card in August that ties into its digital wallet, as well as its own streaming television service to compete with Netflix and others, with at least $1 billion invested in original content.

The results show Apple is lessening its dependence on the iPhone, analysts said.

"As the smartphone market matures Apple can no longer rely on iPhones alone to power the company forward," said Avi Greengart of the consultancy Techsponential.

"Apple has been signaling for a while that its plan was to diversify into services and we've seen from the latest results that this strategy is working quite well."

Apple's roadmap

Apple's update should allay investor concerns that the company's growth could be hobbled by a sputtering smartphone market, said a research note from Gene Munster and Will Thompson of the equity firm Loup Ventures.

"We believe the Street is systematically undervaluing Apple's ecosystem by focusing on hardware sales instead of revenue and earnings growth plus optionality," Munster and Thompson wrote.

"We believe this quarter's results and the roadmap for the next two years will prove to be a turning point for investors to begin valuing Apple with a more appropriate multiple."

Challenges ahead

But some analysts warn that Apple still faces challenges as rivals chip away at the smartphone market, in which the iPhone's share is less than 12 percent.

Daniel Newman of Futurum Research said it was "an impressively unimpressive quarter" for Apple highlighted by weak iPhone sales.

"I believe the iPhone success is a double-edged sword for Apple, because it has become such a dependency for the company to achieve its growth targets, yet the market is clearly showing a stabilizing or even shrinking demand," Newman said in a research note.

Newman said Apple has no other product as lucrative as the iPhone, which has seen problems in China and has failed to gain traction in low-income countries.

"I believe Apple is floundering a bit more than people want to believe," Newman said.

"The company's strategy seems to be lacking vision. Apple's growth is coming from accessories and services, rather than iPhones and iPads. While diversification is a step forward, the company will need more of it, and fast."

Richard Windsor of the research firm Radio Free Mobile said Apple "is still a one-product company" because its ecosystem revolves around the iPhone.

"I still think that ending its dependence on the iPhone is a very distant dream meaning Apple will continue to live and die with the success of this product," Windsor said in a blog post.

While Apple is showing gains in these new services, Windsor said Apple's trajectory remains somewhat murky.

"If the Apple iPhone suddenly loses its mojo then these businesses which are being dressed up as iPhone independent are also likely to crater."

Greengart said the fears are overblown, pointing out that Apple has a large and loyal base of iPhone users which allows the company to sell more accessories and services.

"They're keeping their existing customers and there's still more switching to iPhone than away from iPhone," he said.

Greengart said Apple has the potential to lead in mobile augmented and virtual reality, health and wellness services through its smartwatch, which has been dominating the segment.

"Satisfaction with the Apple Watch is very high," the analyst said.

"If you want a smartwatch and you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is compelling, and once you have the Apple Watch, you're not going to switch to Android."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Apple unveils first new iPod in 4 years

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple on Tuesday introduced its first new iPod model in 4 years, highlighting music and games as it continued to make a priority of serving up digital content.

The new-generation iPod touch, essentially an iPhone without the phone calls, was available in more than two dozen countries at Apple's online shop starting at $199 (P10,400).

"We're making the most affordable iOS device even better with performance that is twice as fast as before, Group FaceTime and augmented reality,” said Apple vice president of product marketing Greg Joswiak.

"The ultra-thin and lightweight design of iPod touch has always made it ideal for enjoying games, music and so much more wherever you go."

The iPod touch evolved from the original iPod digital music player first launched by Apple in 2001.

The iPod touch became popular with people, particularly parents of internet-coveting children, who wanted mobile devices for getting online without the cost of telecommunications services.

The mobile devices can connect to the internet using Wi-Fi hotspots.

Apple earlier this year unveiled streaming video plans along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales.

An Apple TV+ service, an on-demand, ad-free subscription service, will launch this year in 100 countries, the company said.

Apple News+ was launched in the US and Canada in English and French and will be available later this year in Britain and Australia, the company said.

Separately, the company said it was launching a new game subscription service called Apple Arcade later this year with at least 100 titles at launch.

"iOS is the world’s largest gaming platform, and with three times faster graphics, games on the new iPod touch run even smoother and look even more beautiful," Apple said in a release.

The first new iPod since the year 2015 comes as Apple shifts to emphasize digital content and other services to offset a pullback in the once-sizzling smartphone market, and with many news organizations struggling to monetize their online services.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Top US court allows consumer lawsuit on Apple app store monopoly

WASHINGTON -- The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that a consumer lawsuit accusing Apple of illegally monopolizing the company's App Store may proceed, opening a new avenue of antitrust litigation against the iPhone maker.

In a 5-4 ruling, the justices rejected Apple's argument that consumers lacked standing to proceed with their lawsuit because it was merely an intermediary with app developers.

The class-action lawsuit maintains that Apple, which takes a 30 percent commission on app sales, abuses its monopoly position, resulting in higher prices.

The opinion written by the newest court member, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, said consumers had a right to pursue their case because they have a direct relationship with Apple.

"If a retailer has engaged in unlawful monopolistic conduct that has caused consumers to pay higher-than-competitive prices, it does not matter how the retailer structured its relationship with an upstream manufacturer or supplier," the opinion said.

Kavanaugh was joined by liberal justices Ruth Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor.

A dissenting opinion written by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by other conservatives on the court agreed with Apple's argument that developers, not the company, sell to consumers and that the lawsuit is based on "pass-on" liability.

"The problem is that the 30 percent commission falls initially on the developers," Gorsuch wrote.

"So if the commission is in fact a monopolistic overcharge, the developers are the parties who are directly injured by it. Plaintiffs can be injured only if the developers are able and choose to pass on the overcharge to them in the form of higher app prices that the developers alone control."

Apple's online marketplace is the sole avenue for apps for its iPhone and other mobile devices, and the company has paid out more than $100 billion to developers since launching the store a decade ago.

Apple did not immediately respond to an AFP query on the decision.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

iPhone software update spotlights Apple secrecy on battery health

Apple Inc's move on Wednesday to give iPhone owners information about the health of their batteries reverses the company's longstanding refusal to make such information available directly on iPhones and iPads, even though battery health has long been easy to check on Apple's Mac computers.

Apple said an update to its iOS operating system will show the phone's battery health and recommend whether the battery needs to be replaced. It will also let users turn off a controversial piece of software that slows the phone's performance in some situations when the battery is flagging.

Apple acknowledged in December that its software sometimes deliberately slows phones with weak batteries. Apple apologized and lowered the price of battery replacements in its stores from $79 to $29 for affected phones.

Critics say Apple has obfuscated the fact that a worn-out battery not only fails to hold a charge, it also degrades the phone's performance. The company's lack of transparency on the issue has pushed people to buy a new phone rather than a new battery, these people say.

"The battery wears out," said Kyle Wiens, chief executive of iFixit, which publishes repair guides for iPhones and sells replacement parts. "They have been pretending like the battery doesn't wear out. They've made billions of dollars on that pretense."

Apple has always banned battery-health apps from the App Store for security reasons. While a few developers had found ways around the restrictions, their apps stopped showing a key piece of information - the "charge cycle count," or how many times the battery has been drained and recharged - after a 2016 software update.

Rogerio Hirooka of Lirum Labs said his company's app lost charge cycle counts in 2016 but can still provide information on charge capacity, which can be used to determine whether the battery is at the end of its life. He said a routine bug-fix for the app was rejected by Apple in December, just before Apple acknowledged the battery-slowing issue.

Apple rejected his app because it provides "potentially inaccurate diagnostic functionality" that could "mislead or confuse your users," according to documents from the app review process seen by Reuters. Apple explains that "there is no publicly available infrastructure to support iOS diagnostic analysis," according to the documents.

Apple declined to comment on why battery diagnosis is available on the Mac but not on the iPhone, or why it rejected the update to Hirooka's app.

"That fact that they tell you (battery health) on the Mac but it's a forbidden secret on the iPhone is crazy," Wiens said.

All lithium ion batteries degrade over time. Until the software update announced Wednesday becomes available - and Apple has not given a specific date - the only way to check an iPhone battery is to take the device to an Apple Store or hook the phone up to a Mac computer running special third-party software.

Repair advocates have long criticized Apple and other technology companies for making batteries hard for users to access and replace. Apple has been lobbying against "right to repair" laws in several US states that would require it to sell parts to independent repair shops.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Swoop is Tinder for Filipino house-hunters

MANILA - Real estate has become one of the most attractive investments as condominiums sprout all over the metropolis.

Potential buyers, however, can get overwhelmed by the number of choices on real estate websites.

This problem led Neva Talladen to come up with Swoop, the Philippines' first full-service real estate app which promises to make condo-hunting as easy as swiping through Tinder profiles.

“People just don’t want to be matched with property or brokers. They want to be taken cared of because this will be one of the biggest decisions they will make in their lives,” Talladen said.

The app features 360-degree photos, giving users a better view of the property before scheduling a visit.

Swoop is available on iOS and Android devices.

Talladen joins ANC’s “Early Edition” to explain details of the app and improvement plans such as virtual tours of properties for sale.

--ANC Early Edition April 7 2017

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nintendo shares jump on Super Mario app for iPhones

TOKYO - Nintendo shares surged more than five percent on Wednesday after the game giant said it would release a Super Mario app for iPhones next month.

The stock price rose as much as 5.5 percent to 26,215 yen before closing the morning session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange up 4.38 percent at 25,950 yen.

Shares in Nintendo, creator of the Pokemon franchise, have been on a tear since the July release of Pokemon Go -- making the company more valuable than Sony at one stage.

The stock has gained more than 50 percent this year on the phenomenal success of the mobile app for iOS and Android developed by San Francisco-based Niantic.

Kyoto-based Nintendo said it would release Super Mario Run worldwide for Apple's iPhone and iPad on December 15.

Customers can download it from the App Store for free to try some limited elements of the game.

An optional one-time payment, which will be $9.99 in the United States, grants unlimited access, the company said.

Neil Campling, an analyst at Northern Trust Capital Markets, hailed the company's approach of enticing gamers in the same way as other mobile game successes as "a great strategy".

"To set a low incentive and then a low total cost when engaged could set Nintendo on a differentiated path, which ultimately could be a game changer," Campling said.

Super Mario Run will also be introduced for Android-based devices at a later date.

Nintendo is also to release a new game console early next year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Grab launches instant messaging platform

MANILA - Ride-sharing service Grab on Tuesday launched an instant messaging platform to allow quick chats between drivers and passengers through the app.

GrabChat comes complete with commonly used template messages for drivers and passengers to enable safe communication between drivers and passengers, the company said.

“Many Filipino drivers and riders still rely on calls and text messages before a ride commences, either to help drivers locate passengers or inform drivers of a rider’s specific whereabouts," Grab’s country head Brian Cu said in a statement.

"GrabChat is part of making transport freedom a reality among Filipinos, as it provides an in-app communications solution to drivers and passengers, minimizing call and SMS charges,” he added.

An auto translate feature will be added to the service by the end of the year to allow regional travelers to communicate easily with local drivers.

GrabChat is currently applicable for GrabCar and GrabTaxi services and will be gradually rolled out this week for all Android and iOS users.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Planning to buy an iPad Mini? Here's the #BestDealEver for you

MANILA -- Wanna play Pokemon Go in a much bigger screen? Smart Bro, the country's leading mobile broadband, is offering the #BestDealEver for iPad Mini 2.

Smart Bro offers the #SMARTBROIPAD 599 -- a package that includes an iPad Mini 2 for only P599 per month.

With this powerful gadget, you can play Pokemon in a 7.9-inch high resolution touchscreen that also features advanced Retina display technology. It is also powered with 10 hours of battery life, allowing you to go out and catch 'em all Pokemons!

Currently, it is also the most affordable tablet that you can use to access the iOS App Store and download different apps that suit your lifestyle.

But what's the use of your iPad without a fast and reliable Internet connection? Of course, Smart Bro is never gonna shortchange you. The iPad deal also comes with a 1.7GB monthly data allowance and 1.1GB of video streaming on either YouTube or iflix for the first three months.

This means you only pay an additional P300 to the monthly service fee of Plan 299. To learn more about this offer, visit http://smrt.ph/ipad599.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Start catching 'em all! Pokemon GO now in PH

MANILA - The wait is over. The mobile game Pokemon GO is now out on Google and iOS for Filipino players.

The announcement was made on the Pokemon GO official Facebook page on Saturday. The Philippines is among the next 15 countries across Asia and Oceania where the game is being rolled out.

Other countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.

The augmented reality game was already rolled out in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. To date, it has garnered more than 50 million downloads.

Pokemon GO is developed by US-based firm Niantic, Inc.

One of the first places where one can find a Pokemon is at the CCP.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Google launches free streaming service ahead of Apple Music debut

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. launched a free version of its music streaming service on Tuesday, as it sought to upstage the debut of Apple Inc.'s rival service next week.

Google Play Music has offered a $9.99 per month subscription service for two years but Tuesday's launch is the first free version of the streaming service. It is available online and will be available on Android and iOS by the end of the week, Elias Roman, Google product manager, said.

Apple said earlier this month it would launch a music streaming service on June 30 for $9.99 per month along with a $14.99 per month family plan, with a free three-month trial.

As with other streaming services, such as Spotify and Rhapsody, Google Play Music curates playlists. Users can tailor playlists based on genre, artist or even activity, such as hosting a pool party or "having fun at work."

"We believe this is a play that will expose a lot of people to the service," Roman said in an interview.

Unlike Google's subscription music service, the free service will carry ads, be unavailable offline and exclude certain songs.

Roman said millions of people look at Google Play Music each month but are not ready to pay for a subscription. By offering a free version of the service, he said, the search engine hopes more people will be compelled to pay for an upgraded version.

Ted Cohen, managing partner of TAG Strategic, a digital entertainment consultancy, said the timing of Google's launch was strategic.

"It's a smart time to do it with all the attention around Apple," Cohen said. "If they did it absent the Apple service, it wouldn't be the same story."

Google declined to say how many subscribers it has but said they more than doubled in 2014 from the previous year. But rivals Pandora, Spotify and Beats Music had far more mobile downloads than Google Play Music in 2014, according to data from analytics firm App Annie.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Snapchat now lets you record video while playing music

MANILA - Snapchat has finally figured out how to integrate music within its service.

The latest iOS update of the highly-popular photo messaging mobile application allows users to record video while playing music on a separate mobile app.

That way, no one will no longer need a second audio source, and music players will no longer automatically pause once users press the record button.

No word yet on when the update will be available to Android users.

Snapchat, the flagship app of the company created by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, recently made headlines after reportedly looking to raise money that would raise its valuation to $19 billion .

According to the report, the funding would would make it the third most valuable venture capital backed company in the world, behind Uber and smartphone-maker Xiaomi. --with a report from ANC Alerts

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lazada holds 'flash sale' for 'selfie' addicts

MANILA - Online retail giant Lazada will be holding a "flash sale" on Thursday, shining the spotlight on the Nubia Z5 S Mini --dubbed as perfect smartphone for "selfie" addicts.

The smartphone will go for P8,990 during the flash sale, which will start at noon on Feb. 12.

It will be available to both desktop shoppers and those using the Lazada mobile application available to both iOS and Android users.

The S Mini comes packed with a 4.7 inch HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, one GB ram and 16 GB rom (expandable to 32 GB thru micro SD cards). It also boasts of a 13-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear camera.

The company says that it is the world's first smartphone to pack a 13-inch front camera that incorporates the control and photographic fidelity of a DSLR camera and lightning-speed 4G support.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com