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Tag: iPhone

  • WWDC 2020 Part 2: iPadOS Blurs the Computing Line Even More

    WWDC 2020 Part 2: iPadOS Blurs the Computing Line Even More

    Apple unveiled a number of welcome improvements to iPadOS, further blurring the line between tablet and computer.

    Widgets, Search and Interface

    Like iOS 14, iPadOS 14 gains improved widgets to help users get more from their Home Screen.

    In addition, Search has been completely revamped to make it much more powerful on the iPad. The new Universal Search can much more effectively act as an app launcher.

    Universal Search
    Universal Search

    Siri also gains the more streamlined interface that it receives on the iPhone. Similarly, FaceTime calls no longer take up the entire screen, blocking access to other apps. Instead, the incoming call appears in a small notification box at the top of the screen. This feature is also being implemented on iOS for the iPhone.

    iOS and iPadOS Incoming Calls
    iOS and iPadOS Incoming Calls

    Handwriting

    Apple is significantly improving the handwriting recognition on the iPad, closing the gap between handwriting and text input. The new handwriting engine, Scribble, can automatically clean up shapes drawn on the screen.

    Scribble
    Scribble

    What’s more, Scribble makes it possible to use the Apple Pencil for input in any text field. When writing with the Pencil, text can be selected using the same tap gestures for manipulating traditional text.

    Scribble Handwriting
    Scribble Handwriting

    More significantly, iPadOS will be able to recognize email addresses and phone numbers in handwriting and interact with them accordingly.

    Default Apps

    One of the biggest complaints about the iPad is the inability to change default apps for web browsing and email. It appears that iPadOS finally rectifies this. This will be a big improvement, especially in the enterprise, where many users prefer Outlook.

    Stay tuned for Part 3: The Mac

  • Renowned Chip Engineer Jim Keller Departs Intel

    Renowned Chip Engineer Jim Keller Departs Intel

    Jim Keller, something of a legend in the microprocessor industry, has suddenly resigned from Intel after just two years.

    Jim Keller has a long history in the industry, having working for Digital Equipment Corp., AMD, Apple, Tesla and Intel. Wherever Keller has gone, he has often led the development of game-changing microprocessors for the company employing him.

    During his first stint at AMD, in the late ‘90s, he worked on the K7 Athlon chips and led the development of the K8, AMD’s first 64-bit line of chips. He eventually found his way to P.A. Semi, the company focused on mobile processors, going to Apple shortly before it bought the firm.

    During his time at Apple, Keller helped develop the A-series line of processors used in iPhones and iPads, and rumored to be coming to Macs.

    In 2012, Keller returned to AMD, where he lead the development of the Zen families of chips, that helped the company gain ground on Intel for the first time in years.

    After a brief stint at Tesla, where he designed the company’s autopilot chip, Keller took a job at Intel where he was believed to be working on helping the chip giant become competitive once again. Intel has had well-publicized struggles recently, with a Fortune profile piece saying the company was “betting its chips on microprocessor mastermind Jim Keller.”

    Needless to say, his history of staying with a company until he helps it achieve a ground-breaking success makes his sudden departure from Intel all the more unusual. In the company’s announcement, Intel said Keller was leaving “due to personal reasons,” and wished “him and his family all the best for the future.”

    AnandTech’s Dr. Ian Cutters did receive confirmation that Keller will remain a consultant for six months to help with the transition.

    Whatever caused Keller to leave Intel, here’s to hoping all is well with him and his family, and that he continues to have as much influence on the industry as he has in the past.

  • Signal Now Allows Chat History Transfer on iOS

    Signal Now Allows Chat History Transfer on iOS

    Secure messaging app Signal has added the ability to transfer one’s chat history on iOS devices.

    Signal is a popular messaging app that is widely considered to be the most secure messaging platform available. It is used by Edward Snowden, and even Senate staff are encouraged to use it.

    One glaring issues on iOS has been the inability to transfer your chat history to a new device. Instead, moving to a new device meant leaving behind all your Signal threads (this writer can personally attest to how frustrating it was). Now, however, it seems Signal has finally brought this feature to iOS.

    “Signal iOS now includes a new feature that makes it possible to switch to a brand-new iPhone or iPad while securely transferring Signal information from your existing iOS device,” writes Nora Trapp on Signal’s blog. “As with every new Signal feature, the process is end-to-end encrypted and designed to protect your privacy. Transfers also occur over a local connection (similar to AirDrop), so even large migrations can be completed quickly.”

    The only caveat is the transfer process requires access to the old phone, so it won’t work if it has been sold, lost or stolen. As long as you still have the old phone, however, simply install Signal on the new phone and go through the registration process. After entering your number, the app will ask if you want to transfer your messages from your old device. If you opt to migrate, your old phone will provide a migration prompt, while the new phone will generate a QR code. Scan the QR code on the new phone with the old one and the transfer will begin.

    This is excellent news for Signal fans and eliminates one of the few pain points associated with having the most secure communication possible.

    Image Credit: Signal

  • Apple to Announce ARM-Based Macs at WWDC

    Apple to Announce ARM-Based Macs at WWDC

    Apple is preparing to announce its decision to move to ARM chips for its Macs at the upcoming WWDC.

    Apple has long been rumored to be moving to ARM chips like the ones it uses in the iPhone and iPad. The company has been relying on Intel to power its line of computers since 2006, when it switched from the PowerPC architecture.

    ARM chips are based on designs by Arm Holdings. Unlike Intel or AMD, Arm does not manufacture its own chips, but licenses the designs to other companies. Companies can even customize elements of the chipsets to better suit their needs.

    Arm was originally founded as a joint venture between Apple and Acorn and, not surprisingly, Apple has the Architecture License, the broadest license available. This gives Apple the ability to modify Arm designs however they see fit to best work with their products.

    Analysts have been expecting Apple to move Macs to ARM chips for multiple reasons. First, Intel has been struggling to keep up with demand for its processors and is starting to fall behind rival AMD in performance. Given the premium it charges for its Macs, any inability to deliver the fastest machines possible is far worse for Apple than many of its rivals. In contrast, current iPad Pros are faster than the vast majority of PC laptops on the market and, even more impressive, they deliver that performance without any fans thanks to the power-efficient nature of ARM chips.

    The second factor motivating the change is Apple’s penchant for controlling the “whole widget.” In other words, Apple is at its best when it controls both the software and the hardware that runs it. This approach is one of the reasons the iPhone and iPads consistently outperform Android competitors by a wide margin.

    A move to ARM for the Mac lineup would likely result in machines that are faster than current models, get better battery life and run cooler, while still running the more powerful macOS.

    According to Bloomberg, internal testing at Apple has “shown sizable improvements over Intel-powered versions, specifically in graphics performance and apps using artificial intelligence, the people said. Apple’s processors are also more power-efficient than Intel’s, which may mean thinner and lighter Mac laptops in the future.”

    Needless to say, however, a complete architecture change is no small feat. It’s previously been reported that Apple was going to release ARM-powered Macs in 2021. According to Bloomberg, the company plans to make the announcement at the upcoming WWDC to give developers plenty of time to prepare their applications to run on the new chipset.

    This is very similar to how Apple handled the move to Intel in 2005 and 2006. Given that Apple has orchestrated two other major architecture changes in the Mac’s history, it’s a safe bet Apple will do everything necessary to make this transition as smooth as possible.

  • TSMC Will Build $12 Billion Semiconductor Factory in US

    TSMC Will Build $12 Billion Semiconductor Factory in US

    Following reports the Trump administration was in talks with chip makers to build US factories, TSMC has announced plans to do just that.

    TSMC is the primary provider of chips for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, as well as a variety of other smartphone makers. The news is a big win for the Trump administration, as well as the tech industry in general.

    As the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted manufacturing and supply chains, the tech industry has been grappling with the fallout of not being able to keep up with demand. The situation has shone a light on the downsides of relying solely on overseas factories for mission-critical components.

    The Trump administration opened discussions with both Intel and TSMC, in an effort to persuade both companies to open factories in the US. Sources said the administration was also talking with Samsung to see what could be done to help the company expand its existing semiconductor facilities in the US.

    TSMC plans on beginning construction in 2021 in Arizona, with production scheduled to begin in 2024.

  • Apple Says iOS Mail Vulnerability Poses No Immediate Threat

    Apple Says iOS Mail Vulnerability Poses No Immediate Threat

    Apple has said a recently discovered iOS Mail vulnerability poses no immediate threat and a fix is coming soon.

    As previously covered, security firm ZecOps discovered a flaw in iOS Mail, affecting both iPhones and iPads. The flaw involved a blank email being sent to a device, an email that would cause a crash and reset. The reset created an opportunity for a hacker to steal data from the device. ZecOps believes the vulnerability was being exploited as far back as 2018, and was working with a client they believed was targeted using this vulnerability in late 2019.

    In spite of that, Apple reached out to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman to issue a statement, which Gurman tweeted:

    Apple responds to ZecOps report on Mail app vulnerabilities, says it doesn’t pose immediate risk and software update coming.

    ”Apple takes all reports of security threats seriously. We have thoroughly investigated the researcher’s report and, based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users. The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections, and we have found no evidence they were used against customers. These potential issues will be addressed in a software update soon. We value our collaboration with security researchers to help keep our users safe and will be crediting the researcher for their assistance.”

    — Mark Gurman (@markgurman) 4/23/20

    Apple’s response is good news, although it still leaves a number of questions, not the least of which is what did ZecOps find in the way of vulnerabilities being exploited over the last two years?

  • iOS Mail Flaw May Have Left Users Vulnerable For Years

    iOS Mail Flaw May Have Left Users Vulnerable For Years

    Researchers have discovered a flaw in the iOS version of Mail that may have left countless iPads and iPhones vulnerable to data theft.

    According to Reuters, the flaw was found by San Francisco-based ZecOps, a company specializing in mobile security forensics. The investigation was prompted by a sophisticated attack against one of ZecOps clients in late 2019.

    ZecOps CEO, Zuk Avraham, “said he found evidence that a malicious program was taking advantage of the vulnerability in Apple’s iOS mobile operating system as far back as January 2018.” What makes the vulnerability particularly unsettling is that it requires little to no action on the part of the victim.

    The hack works through a seemingly blank email that forces a crash and reset, Reuters reports, opening “the door for hackers to steal other data on the device, such as photos and contact details.” Not even recent versions of iOS protect a user, leaving the victim vulnerable to having their data remotely stolen from their device.

    Apple did confirm to Reuters that a vulnerability does exist in Mail, and an upcoming software update would include a fix. While the fix is certainly good news, it’s worrisome that such a severe bug went undiscovered for so long while, at the same time, apparently being exploited by bad actors.

  • Apple Will Allow Push Notification Advertising

    Apple Will Allow Push Notification Advertising

    iPhone and iPad users may soon be receiving advertising via push notifications, according to Apple’s latest App Store review guidelines.

    First reported by AppleInsider, the new guidelines will allow developers to push advertisements using push notifications, as long as the user has opted to allow it. The move comes as Apple is facing increasing scrutiny over what is perceived as an unfair advantage its own apps have over third-party developers.

    Previously, third-party apps could be banned for pushing ads via notifications, but some of Apple’s own push notifications blur the line between information and advertising. As The Verge points out, there were also ambiguous cases, such as whether a retailer can push a notification to inform an existing user about an upcoming sale.

    Opening the door to push notification ads at least provides a way for everyone to be on a level playing field, and ensures that the practice is fairly regulated. It will open up new avenues of communication between developers and customers, and help Apple answer critics regarding how it manages the App Store. Overall, it will likely end up being a win-win for everyone involved.

  • Taking a Page From Apple, Google Is Working On Its Own Chips

    Taking a Page From Apple, Google Is Working On Its Own Chips

    Google is working on its own ARM-based chips to power its Pixel line of smartphones and help it better compete with Apple.

    ARM licenses its processor designs to companies for use in their products. Apple’s iPhones have long had a performance advantage over similar flagship Android phones, thanks to Apple’s customized A-series line of ARM chips. Apple also has an advantage of tight integration between their hardware and software. As a result, year after year, model after model, Apple’s iPhones and iPads continue to dominate the competition when it comes to speed and performance.

    According to an Axios, however, Google is preparing to follow in Apple’s footsteps with its own line of chips for Pixel and Chromebook devices. Axios reports that “the chip, code-named Whitechapel, was designed in cooperation with Samsung, whose state-of-the-art 5-nanometer technology would be used to manufacture the chips, according to a source familiar with Google’s effort.”

    If the report is true, it would be a big blow to Qualcomm, Google’s current chip supplier. The move would, however, finally give Apple’s devices some real competition for the performance crown.

  • Coronavirus: Apple Limiting iPhone Orders

    Coronavirus: Apple Limiting iPhone Orders

    Amid supply chain constraints as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Apple is limiting online iPhone orders.

    According to CNBC, “Apple’s online store began limiting U.S. customers to two units of each iPhone model per person this week. Customers can still buy more than two iPhones in one order, but they would have to be different models — for instance, two iPhone 11s and two iPhone 11 Pros.

    “The restriction applies to the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Max.” Apple is also limiting orders of the new iPad Pro the company announced on Wednesday.

    The news is the latest indication the coronavirus has had a significant impact on Apple’s supply chain. The company previously announced it would miss its quarterly guidance as a result of the virus, while analysts believe the supply chain issues could persist and impact Apple’s 2021 earnings. Apple also warned its store personnel that warranty replacement iPhones were in short supply.

    Apple taking the drastic step of limiting purchases is further evidence the company doesn’t see its supply chain catching up anytime soon.

  • Humane Scores Another Apple Executive

    Humane Scores Another Apple Executive

    Humane has announced that Patrick Gates, former Apple Internet Services executive, has joined the startup as Chief Technology Officer.

    According to the announcement, “Patrick led the development of iconic Apple services like iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime. During his 13 years at Apple, he oversaw technical design, built critical infrastructure, and led the teams for numerous industry-defining features across all platforms.

    “A Silicon Valley veteran, Patrick did research at Sun Microsystems and built developer frameworks at NeXT before his time at Apple. He is passionate about building and scaling teams and technologies with an unrelenting focus on customer privacy and security.”

    Gates joins a startup founded by two other former Apple employees, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno. Chaudhri is a designer who “spent over 20 years at Apple imagining and creating some of the world’s most beloved consumer products, like the Macintosh, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch and iPhone.” Bongiorno was a Director of Software Engineering and “responsible for all software project management for iOS and macOS and also played a key leadership role in the execution of critical projects such as the launch of the original iPad.”

    While Humane is still in stealth mode, the addition of Gates as CTO is a big win for the startup. Together, the three former Apple employees give the young company a significant creative pedigree.

  • Brazil Sides With Apple In iPhone Throttling Case

    Brazil Sides With Apple In iPhone Throttling Case

    Brazilian courts have sided with Apple against accusations the company improperly throttled the performance of iPhones with weak batteries.

    Apple has faced worldwide criticism for an iOS update that slowed down iPhone performance if the phone’s battery was below a certain health threshold. Owners around the world were in an uproar when the feature was discovered, claiming the company was trying to obsolete older iPhones. Apple, however, claimed the feature was designed to do the exact opposite.

    Since batteries naturally degrade over time and lose their original capacity, older devices need to be recharged more frequently. If a battery has degraded enough, and the device is pushed hard enough, it can result in the device shutting down. Apple’s performance throttling was designed to prevent that scenario, by slowing the processor down if the battery couldn’t support the device running full tilt. Apple’s explanation lent weight to their claim they were trying to prolong the life of older devices, rather than obsolete them. That didn’t stop multiple courts around the world from slapping the company with fines.

    AppleInsider is reporting that Brazilian courts are siding firmly with the iPhone maker. According to the report, at least one lawsuit brought by the Brazilian Institute of Computer Science and Law (IBDI) has been dismissed by a court—without even looking at the evidence.

    Similarly, the Federal District Public Ministry’s (MPDFT) appeal was defeated, with Judge João Egmon saying “there was no obvious planned obsolescence on Apple’s part, adding that he believed Apple implemented performance throttling to mitigate random shutdowns and preserve usability.

    “Egmon added that he believed Apple did enough to comply with local consumer protection laws by offering discounted battery replacements in Brazil, as it did in other countries.”

    This situation represented a no-win scenario for Apple. Batteries degrade, that’s a fact of life. If Apple did nothing and iPhones kept randomly shutting down when their batteries had degraded to the point of being unable to maintain peak performance, Apple would have been sued for that. Instead, the company did what it could to mitigate the effects of naturally aging batteries and got sued for that.

    At least one country’s courts see Apple’s efforts for what they were—an attempt to preserve iPhone usability.

  • Coronavirus: Facebook Ad Revenue Likely to Suffer

    Coronavirus: Facebook Ad Revenue Likely to Suffer

    Analysts are warning that Facebook’s ad revenue business may be impacted as a result of the spread of the coronavirus.

    The coronavirus has been having significant impact on a number of industries, especially those that rely on Chinese manufacturing. Apple has warned it will miss its quarterly guidance as a result of delays to iPhone production, and Microsoft has similarly warned its Windows unit would miss expectations, likely because of delays to PC manufacturing.

    Needham analysts are now saying the coronavirus will hit even digital businesses, such as Facebook’s ad revenue. According to CNBC, “in a research note Friday, analysts Laura Martin and Dan Medina wrote that channel checks show lower spending in travel, retail, consumer packaged goods and entertainment, which together represent 30% to 45% of Facebook’s total revenue. They also wrote that six of the largest 10 advertising countries are ‘currently COVID-19 hotspots.’”

    As a result, the analysts have lowered their estimates for Facebook’s revenue for the first part of 2020, although they expect the crisis to calm by mid-June.

  • Coronavirus: Apple Stores May Run Low On Replacement iPhones

    Coronavirus: Apple Stores May Run Low On Replacement iPhones

    Apple is warning its store personnel that supplies of some replacement iPhones are running short, and extra measures may be required to assist customers.

    According to an internal memo that AppleInsider has confirmed, Genius Bar personnel (Geniuses) have been informed that some iPhone replacements may be in short supply over the next few weeks. Geniuses are being encouraged “to offer to mail replacement devices to customers and provide ‘loaner’ iPhones in the meantime.”

    Apple has already informed investors it will miss its quarterly guidance as its production and supply chain have been impacted as a result of measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Apple’s main manufacturing partner, Foxconn, just informed its own investors that it won’t be back to full production until the end of March, after weeks of its China factories being shut down or running at limited capacity.

    Under Tim Cook, Apple is legendary for maintaining an extremely streamlined supply chain. This is one of the factors behind the company’s success clearing out old inventory right as new products are launched. In situations like these, however, a very tight supply chain can be a two-edged sword.

    This latest warning by the iPhone maker is further evidence of the widespread impact the coronavirus is having.

  • Apple Expected to Release ARM-Based Mac in 2021

    Apple Expected to Release ARM-Based Mac in 2021

    Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has sent out a note to investors predicting Apple will release a Mac powered by an ARM chip in the first half of 2021.

    Apple has long been rumored to be moving toward ARM-based Macs, rather than relying on Intel’s processors. While Intel may be the industry standard, as the computer market has moved toward laptops and mobile devices, Intel has struggled to keep pace with the needs of companies, such as Apple, that want to build powerful computers in sleek designs.

    Recent MacBook Pros have struggled to maintain performance due to heat issues, resulting in the processors throttling to keep from overheating. The only solution is to build bigger, bulkier laptops that have enough fans to provide the necessary heat dissipation, something that goes against Apple’s entire design philosophy.

    In contrast, Apple has had tremendous success with its ARM-based processors in the iPhone and iPad. When the 2018 iPad Pro was released, it was faster than 92% of all laptops, including Apple’s own. The most impressive thing is that this level of performance was achieved without a single fan, while delivering all-day battery life.

    As a result, experts have believed Apple has been working to port macOS to ARM processors and readying the developer tools necessary to help third-party software developers make the transition. ARM-based Macs would allow Apple more control over its own devices and product release roadmap, while giving the company the ability to customize performance for its computers.

    According to MacRumors, Kuo’s note included the following details:

    “We expect that Apple’s new products in 12-18 months will adopt processors made by 5nm process, including the new 2H20 5G iPhone, new 2H20 iPad equipped with mini LED, and new 1H21 Mac equipped with the own-design processor. We think that iPhone 5G support, ‌iPad‌’s adoption of innovative mid-size panel technology, and Mac’s first adoption of the own-design processor are all Apple’s critical product and technology strategies. Given that the processor is the core component of new products, we believe that Apple had increased 5nm-related investments after the epidemic outbreak. Further, Apple occupying more resources of related suppliers will hinder competitors’ developments.”

    If Kuo’s prediction is correct, this will usher in a new era for Apple and open a world of possibilities for the Mac.

  • Unified Microsoft Office App For iOS Rolling Out

    Unified Microsoft Office App For iOS Rolling Out

    Late last year, Microsoft announced it was working on an all-in-one office app for iOS and Android. It appears the iOS version is in the process of rolling out.

    The new app brings Word, Excel and PowerPoint into a single app, improving and simplifying worksflows. Microsoft still intends to offer the individual apps, especially for users that may only need one or two. For users who rely on the entire suite, however, the new app will have some nice improvements and save space.

    iPhone Optimized Office
    iPhone Optimized Office

    The new app is on the App Store although, at time of writing, only an iPhone-optimized version was available. When running it on an iPad, it recommends downloading an iPadOS app, although only the existing, stand-alone apps are available. Hopefully the iPadOS version is coming and has just not hit the App Store yet. Given that Office works best on an iPad, it seems unlikely Microsoft would fail to release an iPadOS-optimized version.

    In any case, once (if) both apps are fully available, Office will be a nice addition to the Microsoft family of apps, giving customers yet another option.

  • Apple’s ‘AirTag’ May Launch Q3 2020

    Apple’s ‘AirTag’ May Launch Q3 2020

    TF Securities analysts Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple suppliers will ramp up production to deliver its upcoming AirTag devices in 2020.

    AirTag is the name Apple is believed to be using for its planned Tile-like devices that can be used to keep track of virtually anything. The devices will use Ultra-Wideband, similar to the iPhone 11. An individual will be able to use AirTags to keep track of a computer bag, suitcase, keys or other items, all from within the Find My app.

    According to a research note, shared by 9to5Mac, Kuo doesn’t explicitly say that AirTags will be released this year, but it is suggested. Kuo expects Apple’s partners and suppliers to start ramping up production in Q2 and Q3 2020.

    With 5G iPhones, iPads, new MacBooks (with an improved keyboard) and now AirTags, all expected in 2020, it’s shaping up to be a good year for Apple users.

  • Apple Will Miss Quarterly Guidance Because of Coronavirus

    Apple Will Miss Quarterly Guidance Because of Coronavirus

    Apple has informed investors it will miss its quarterly guidance as a result of the coronavirus, COVID-19.

    In a statement on the company’s website, Apple says its guidance on January 28 “reflected the best information available at the time as well as our best estimates about the pace of return to work following the end of the extended Chinese New Year holiday on February 10.” In the interim, however, COVID-19 has continued to challenge governments and medical personnel around the globe, especially in China where much of Apple’s production is.

    According to the statement, Apple believes two factors will prevent it from meeting its guidance.

    “The first is that worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained. While our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province — and while all of these facilities have reopened — they are ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated. The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues. These iPhone supply shortages will temporarily affect revenues worldwide.

    “The second is that demand for our products within China has been affected. All of our stores in China and many of our partner stores have been closed. Additionally, stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic. We are gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can. Our corporate offices and contact centers in China are open, and our online stores have remained open throughout.”

    While unfortunate, this news is not entirely unexpected. Analysts have been predicting iPhone production would be impacted as a result of the virus, and so far it shows no sign of abating.

  • Foxconn Cleared to Reopen Zhengzhou Factory

    Foxconn Cleared to Reopen Zhengzhou Factory

    According to Reuters, Foxconn has received clearance from the Chinese government to reopen its factory in Zhengzhou.

    Reuters’ sources said “about 16,000 people, or under 10% of Foxconn’s workforce in Zhengzhou, have returned to the plant” in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The company is also negotiating with authorities for permission to open their other factories as well.

    Foxconn had earlier said it did not foresee any impact to its production as a result of the virus. In spite of the company’s optimism, Reuters’ sources last week warned the government-mandated shutdowns could have a major impact on iPhone production if they went beyond the initial February 10 cutoff.

    The reopening of the Zhengzhou factory is a good sign, and hopefully Foxconn will be able to reopen the rest sooner rather than later.

  • 2020 Could Be ‘Breakout Year’ For Apple Wearables

    2020 Could Be ‘Breakout Year’ For Apple Wearables

    According to TheStreet.com, Jefferies analyst Kyle McNealy believes 2020 may be a “breakout year” for Apple wearables.

    Apple’s Wearables unit has been growing increasingly important for the company, as AirPods, AirPods Pro and the Apple Watch have become must-have devices for many people, especially during the holiday season. What’s more, these devices receive almost universally high praise from critics, increasing their appeal even more.

    Revenue from Wearables hit $10 billion in the latest quarterly earnings, and McNealy sees the category contributing 3% to 4% of total company growth in 2020 and 2021.

    According to TheStreet, McNealy said in a research note: “We see fiscal 2020 as a breakout year for Apple’s Wearables business. Multiple 2019 product launches, potential average selling price expansion from AirPods Pro, and strong customer interest across product lines support our view that 2020 will be a meaningful inflection point for the business.”

    This is good news for Apple, as the company looks to build its non-iPhone revenue streams.

  • Coronavirus Could Impact iPhone Production

    Coronavirus Could Impact iPhone Production

    Following assurances from Foxconn that the coronavirus would not impact its production, it appears factory shutdowns are on the verge of doing just that and impacting iPhone output in the process, according to Reuters.

    The Chinese government has told companies to shut down production until at least February 10, and Foxconn has stopped “almost all” production as a result. According to Reuters, a “source told Reuters on Monday that Foxconn has so far seen a ‘fairly small impact’ from the outbreak as it was utilizing factories in countries including Vietnam, India and Mexico to fill the gap, adding that the company will be able to make up for the delay if factories work overtime after the ban.”

    The real concern is if production is stopped beyond February 10. If manufacturing remains stopped for weeks, a month or more, the impact to Foxconn’s output, and the iPhone specifically, would be “big.”

    This is just the latest indication that the coronavirus could have severe implications across various industries as governments and agencies around the world struggle to deal with the outbreak.