A downfall in LG’s smartphone business has left its signature “Best Shops” in South Korea with gaps in shelves. The company plans on filling these gaps with products from a rival company, Apple. This has made Samsung upset. The company claims that the plan contravenes a prior arrangement between the two South Korean tech giants.
LG’s executives are planning to close the smartphone division in the best interests of the company. But this might come with some consequences shortly. One of these concerns is with the OEM’s chain of brick-and-mortar stores in its native South Korea. These stores are known as “LG Best Shops” to its approximate translation.
Now the main purpose of these stores was to stock up LG’s laptops, accessories, and smartphones. With the future looming dark upon all these product lineups, LG plans to fill up the vacant shelf spaces with Apple products, especially the iPhones.
LG to sell iPhones in South Korean LG Best shops
LG’s Gram series are yet in production, so it isn’t easy to see the OEM stock MacBooks or Macs. However, iPhones are bound to be available in their Best Shops. According to recent reports by Korea Herald, Samsung has objected to LG’s plans.
Samsung’s Distaste in LG’s Plans
Samsung is also based in South Korea, and it runs its own Best Shop counterparts. Samsung claims that LG’s plan on stocking iPhones violates a prior agreement between the two OEMs. This agreement states that both OEMs would only stock their own brand products in their stores. This agreement would help them manage competition in the native market.
LG’s Defense
LG has defended its actions asserting that the agreement was subject to “re-negotiation” in an event where there was a major change in circumstances. Now, if LG were to proceed with its new partnership with Apple, Samsung would take a major blow in its home country. This would include a wholesale exit from the smartphone market. This hit will be exclusively in the 5G smartphone market share.
At present, Samsung is ranked 4th globally, whereas Apple firmly grips on to the 1st spot. iPhones have only had 1 generation 5G connectivity enabled models. This new sales market in South Korea would help them gain an even stronger hold by pushing Samsung back in their native country.
Apple‘s next-gen iPhone 13 lineup is predicted to register strong sales numbers when it goes official. The prediction has been made by Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known market research analyst, in his newest research notes. He believes that newly added features and specifications combined with the Huawei ban would result in more buyers considering iPhone 13.
Kuo predicts that after 195 million cell phones shipped last year Apple will ship 230 million to 240 million units this year, an increase of 23%, and 250 million to 260 million in 2022. In the second half of this year, according to analysts, Apple will gain market share in the high-end segment thanks to a “specification upgrade” and the “US ban on Huawei”. The former is just a fancy way of saying that the new iPhone models will be released towards the end of the third calendar quarter.
The TF International analyst says Apple will ship up to 88 million units in the second half of this year. That would be a 17.3% increase over the 75 million iPhones Apple shipped in the second half of 2020.
A previous report claimed that Apple’s chipset suppliers are also looking to boost iPhone 13 chip supplies in the third quarter. It is the time when the new iPhone models will hit the shelves. This is something that falls in line with Kuo’s predictions about Apple shipping the iPhone 13 series in high numbers later this year.
The lineup is rumored to include four models: 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max. These will continue with the usage of OLED display panels like the iPhone 12 series but there is expected to be 120Hz refresh rate aka ProMotion displays this time around. There will be a new A15 Bionic chip, LiDAR sensors, 1TB storage on Pro models, and a wider availability of mmWave 5G connectivity.
Apple expects ProMotion displays for the iPhone 13 Pro models with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, the A15 Bionic chipset made with TSMC’s improved 5nm node, improvements to the cameras including sensor displacement stabilization for everyone add four models. This feature stabilizes the blurring that occurs when recording video by adjusting the camera’s sensors instead of its lenses.
There are only three months to go until Apple releases a new iPhone for 2021. In this article, we round up everything we know so far about the iPhone 13 – or perhaps the iPhone 12s, if Apple wants to avoid the unlucky number – including its likely release date, new features, price, design changes and tech specs.
New information hints at Apple’s plans for the iPhone 13 or iPhone 12s launch later this year. Reports indicate that the company might be looking to increase its sales this year due to several factors acting to its benefit. A new report from TrendForce revealed some new details about the upcoming iPhone.
Early rumours about this fall’s iPhone have used iPhone 13 as the name for the upcoming model since Apple went from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 12 last year. But a handful of recent rumours have referred to the unreleased iPhone by a different name — the iPhone 12s.
From everything we’ve heard so far, the iPhone 13 is set to offer a 120Hz LTPO display on both Pro models, improved battery life (thanks to a more efficient 5G modem), and substantial upgrades to the all-important cameras. That includes the possibility of a LiDAR sensor on cheaper iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, as well as a new portrait video mode.
As for what to expect on the launch, the new series is anticipated to comprise of four iPhone models – iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. These will feature Apple’s A15 5nm+ chipset, upgraded camera setups and smaller notches at the front. 120Hz refresh rate is also expected on the Pro models while AMOLED panels might don all the variants. The memory options are likely to be limited to 512GB as last year’s offerings.
Almost all the hints to date around the upcoming series of iPhones have been under the moniker iPhone 13. Though the name is easier to depict the sequential standing of this year’s iPhones, it is not necessary that Apple will stick to the numerics. In fact, speculations suggest the complete opposite. Instead of going for iPhone 13 as the name for this year’s iPhone series. Apple might introduce it as the iPhone 12s. The same has been speculated time and again online. Apple will likely do so to avoid the obvious aversion to the number 13 in its international markets.
YouTube users on Android have long been enjoying some features that Apple users still haven’t been able to take advantage of—at least not consistently. One such feature is the picture-in-picture (PiP) support. YouTube application supports picture-in-picture mode on Android devices and the feature is soon expected to be rolled out to iPhones as well as iPads. A picture-in-picture mode allows users to continue viewing a video even when an application has been minimised.
The video streaming platform is rolling out the new feature to premium subscribers, according to a report by The Verge. The company is expected to roll out the feature to non-premium users as well.
Android devices have had picture-in-picture mode support for years now. Globally, the feature remains paywalled behind a YouTube Premium subscription, but in the US, ad-supported PiP playback is available for free-tier user. PIP essentially allows YouTube to display a mini-player on top of any other application that you are using. This allows you to use other apps while watching YouTube videos.
The picture-in-picture support, on an operating system level was first introduced on iPads with the iOS 9 update. iOS devices received the update much later with iOS 14.Some iPad users can still use the picture-in-picture while using YouTube on Safari browser. In most cases, this feature was only introduced to premium subscribers.
With the recent roll out the new picture-in-picture mode, more users will be able to access the new feature, at least in United States. iOS users, with or without a YouTube Premium subscription, will soon have access to it using the YouTube app as Android users have for years.
YouTube did not provide a timeline for when the feature would arrive for free users, but stated the rollout to Premium subscribers is in progress
Apple was quite late to release its 5G phone variant but when it did, it took the world by storm. iPhone 12 was supposed to be a gamechanger but it hit a brief slump. According to Strategy Analytics’ recent data, 5G iPhone shipments have fallen by 23 percent in Q1, 2021.
Apple Leads Market Share despite fall in 5G iPhone Shipments by 23 Percent in Q1, 2021
Apple’s Loss in Market Share Was Competitors’ Gain
This latest data shows Apple’s 52.2 percent market share for 5G iPhone shipments shrink to 40.4 percent in Q1, 2021. But even with a 23 percent drop, Apple manages a healthy market share against its closest competitor, OPPO. OPPO currently has a 21.5 percent share which is up from 13.9 percent in the previous quarter. Another major player, Samsung managed to go up in 5G smartphone shipments from 9.5 percent to 17 percent in Q1, 2021. Samsung impressed the most with a humongous 79 percent growth.
Apple Leads Market Share despite fall in 5G iPhone Shipments by 23 Percent in Q1, 2021
The data also suggests a 6 percent growth in global 5G smartphone shipments in the current quarter. This drop might be considering the anticipation of newer models reportedly arriving in late September. With a few months to go for an expected launch, customers will be looking to save funds to invest in better and upgraded models.
The drop could also be due to the fact that Apple’s competitors are constantly launching new and affordable 5G-ready smartphones. These are budget-friendly alternatives for most customers. These devices though lack several features existing in premium handsets, tend to please customers by being easy on the wallet.
In a bid to eradicate the need for passwords, Apple is finally embracing FIDO Alliance’s WebAuthn protocol to develop what it is calling “Passkeys in iCloud Keychain”.
In the recently concluded WWDC, Apple highlighted this new authentication technology and stated its primary purpose is to help users sign in to supported apps and websites using FaceID or TouchID. You will no longer need to enter a password to sign up or sign in with this technology.
Apple will be doing this with the help of passkeys. Passkeys are WebAuthn credentials to help users to log in to apps using biometric means such as FaceID and TouchID on their iPhones, Macs, and iPads. These Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and will be stored in iCloud Keychain.
According to Apple, Passkeys use public/private key pairs and hence don’t require servers for storing authentication secrets.
Comparison of Apple’s Passkeys in iCloud Keychain to existing authentication methods
So how will it work? When you sign up for a new account using Passkeys, you will need to specify the username. Instead of a password, your Apple device will suggest saving a Passkey for your account. This step will require you to authenticate with FaceID and then your account is created without the need to create any password that you may end up forgetting.
This Passkey will be stored in the iCloud Keychain. You will then be able to sign in to the app by authenticating with FaceID. Passkey will also work on the web for Apple devices across all browsers on supported sites.
This would not be possible if not for the authentication technology which is an iCloud Keychain-backed WebAuthn implementation. Apple says that the Passkeys in MacOS, Monterey, and iOS 15 is only meant for testing and not for production accounts as of now.
Apple‘s supply chain has been immensely affected due to the lockdowns and restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus around the world. The supply of Apple iPhone 12 has been hit especially in India where the main plant involved in the manufacture of iPhones had to drastically cut their manpower and production due to the spread of infection amongst their workers.
However, downstream module makers in Apple’s iPhone supply chain are likely to be pulling in shipments for the necessary parts for the iPhone around June in anticipation of Apple’s next generation of iPhones in the second half of 2021.
Apple is not leaving any stone unturned in its effort to ensure that the upcoming iPhone’s supply and distribution chain does not get impacted and remains stable. Ensuring steady supplies of components needed for the iPhone amidst the tight capacity in the semiconductor industry and prevailing uncertainties in the global logistic capacities seems to be their top priority.
Certain supply chain makers have mentioned that they have received orders from a US-based client, presumably Apple with the visibility of orders extending up to September. It is early to tell if the next-generation iPhones will launch as scheduled due to the fact that samples of parts and components are being prepared now.
If there are no more bumps ahead, the supply chain makers including MLCC, chip resistors, inductors, protection components, and quartz crystals will reach their production peak in September-October.
Apple has already beaten Samsung in terms of procurement of AMOLED screens which they will implement in the upcoming iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series features OLED screens.
According to AppleInsider, a new patent from Apple called “Insert Glass Components for Portable Electronic Devices” has recently flowed out. The patent describes a device used at the edge of the screen The special support structure made of glass can make the screens of iPhone and iPad thinner and stronger at the same time.
Smart devices like the Apple iPhone and also various other mobile phones make use of glass panels before the screen. It has a key task of securing the fragile display from effects and also scrapes, while likewise educating the component of the exterior layout of the gadget itself. With the proceeding advancement of gadget layout depending extra on bent glass for the front panel, this presents layout obstacles that cannot be conveniently overcome with existing methods.
Apple New thinner and stronger glass design
With the continuous development of device design, the front panel of mobile phones relies more on curved glass. Although a completely flat glass panel can be made thinner and stronger at the same time, curved glass panels do not have these advantages. In order to maintain the necessary strength, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the curved glass at key parts (such as the sides).
In this patent, Apple stated that a new glass support structure was added to the edge of the glass cover. This support structure partly acts as an intermediary between the main body and the thin glass cover. At the same time, the adhesive is applied to the glass cover. A “lip”-shaped opening on the outer edge of the board can maintain the thinness of the main glass portion of the entire screen.
In fact, the new glass support structure described by Apple is the core part of the entire design, which can successfully achieve the required strength and thickness of the glass cover of the mobile device. At the same time, the glass cover can be made of different glass materials with different characteristics to maximize strength. For example, glass coated with Ceramic Shield glass manufactured by Apple can harden the main glass cover while maintaining its thickness.
We understand that Apple has explored many different ways to incorporate glass into its products. In 2014, in a patent application for “ceramic covers for electronic device housings”, Apple introduced additional connecting parts and grooves to fix the cover instead of adhesives and a gapless design. There are some other ideas in the patent document, including an all-glass iPhone with a wrap-around touch screen and how to use glass for a foldable iPhone. In addition, Apple is also considering using a large area of glass to make an all-glass iMac
Apple has released the full and final version of iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 for downloadwith a bunch of improvements and fixes including Podcast Subscriptions and Apple Card Family Support.
Among other software updates, Apple has released the watchOS 7.5 for Apple Watch, macOS Big Sur 11.4, and tvOS 14.6.
We will talk about all the software updates in this article.
iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6
As we inch closer towards the imminent release of betas of the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, the iPhone maker is starting to push out updates to its existing software at a rampant pace. Today, the company has packed a lot of great improvements and features in the latest iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6.
The two things you should care about in this update are – Podcast Subscriptions and the Apple Card family.
iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 Features and Changes
Apple Card Family
Apple Card is eligible to be shared with up to five people, including anyone 13 years or older in your Family Sharing group.
Apple Card Family adds a useful feature for families that will support them to track expenses, manage spending with optional limits and controls, and build credit together.
Podcasts
Subscription support for channels and individual shows.
AirTag and Find My
Instead of a phone number, the Lost mode option adds an email address for AirTag and Find My network accessories.
AirTag will show the partially masked phone number of the owner when tapped with an NFC-capable device
Accessibility
Voice Control users can unlock their iPhone for the first time after a restart using only their voice
This release also fixes the following issues:
After using Lock iPhone on Apple Watch, Unlock with Apple Watch may not work.
Reminders may appear as blank lines.
Call blocking extensions may not appear in Settings.
Bluetooth devices sometimes disconnect abruptly or send audio to a different device during an active call.
iPhone experiencing reduced performance during startup.
You can download the latest update over the air, if you like. Just follow the steps exactly as written:
Make sure your iPhone or iPad has 50% or more battery life, otherwise you have to connect it to a charger
Connect to Wi-Fi
Launch the Settings app
Navigate to General > Software Update
Tap on Download and Install when the new update shows up
11-in. iPad Pro (3rd generation), 12.9-in. iPad Pro (5th generation)
11-in. iPad Pro (1st and 2nd generations), 12.9-in. iPad Pro (3rd and 4th generations)
10.5-inch iPad Pro (1st generation), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation)
iPad (5th generation), iPad (6th generation)
iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation)
10.2-inch iPad (7th generation)
iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2
9.7-inch iPad Pro (1st generation)
12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st generation)
watchOS 7.5
Apple watchOS update 7.5 has been released, the update includes a handful of changes including Podcast subscription support and expanded ECG support in Malaysia and Peru.
Those living in Malaysia and Peru, as long as they have a Series 4 or above model, will be pleased to learn that ECG has been enabled on their watches. All they have to do is install the watchOS 7.5 update and they are good to go.
Just like the iPhone and iPad software updates, this update adds support for Apple Card Family and Podcast app subscription support.
watchOS 7.5 Features and Changes:
Access to subscription content in Podcasts app.
Apple Card allows members to track expenses, manage spending, and build credit together with a Family Sharing group.
Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Malaysia and Peru.
Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Malaysia and Peru.
With that out of the away, here is how you can download and install watchOS 7.5 onto your Apple Watch right away:
Place the Apple Watch on its magnetic charger and also make sure that the battery life is 50% or more
On your iPhone, launch the Watch app.
Tap on General and then Software Update.
Let the page refresh and then tap on Download and Install when the new 7.5 update shows up.
watchOS updates usually take a while to download and install, you shouldn’t be surprised if it takes an unusually long time. As long as on the display there is an Apple logo with a progress bar around it, you are all good. Just give it some time and you can start using your Apple Watch like normal again.
watch OS 7.6 will also be released in just a month’s time. Stay tuned for more updates.
macOS Big Sur 11.4
Over the air download for macOS Big Sur 11.4 is available right away for Mac users. The update includes Podcast subscription support and bug fixes.
By now you must have realised that the new updates released today have one thing in common – Podcast subscription support. So, when it comes to macOS Big Sur 11.4, we don’t see anything too different. This update also goes further to fix a lot of bugs.
macOS Big Sur 11.4 Features and Changes:
Podcasts
Apple Podcasts subscriptions are available for purchase via annual as well as monthly subscriptions.
Collections of shows from podcast creators are grouped together by Channels.
This release also fixes the following issues:
Bookmarks in Safari may get moved into a folder that can appear hidden or get reordered.
Certain websites may malfunction after your Mac wakes from sleep
Keywords may not be included when exporting a photo from the Photos app
When searching PDF documents preview may become unresponsive
16-inch MacBook may become unresponsive when playing Civilization VI
In order to download the latest macOS Big Sur 11.4 update, follow the steps outlined below. These steps apply to both Intel and Apple M1 Macs:
Launch System Preferences
Click on Software Update
Install the available system update from here
Considering the fact that your Mac will restart several times during the entire installation process, it is best that you save your work before you go ahead with this.
tvOS 14.6
Support for Podcast subscriptions has also been added to the last and final update we will talk about today, the latest tvOS 14.6. Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K users can now download the update that also comes with bug fixes.
In order to download the latest tvOS update onto your Apple TV, follow the steps exactly as they are written below:
Turn on the Apple TV
Launch the Settings app
Scroll down and open System
Now open Software Update
Install the latest available update from here
There isn’t anything extraordinary in this update, so you shouldn’t have high hopes from it.
Apple Inc.’s chances of winning the Epic Games Inc. antitrust fight appeared less certain on Friday after the U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers put chief executive officer Tim Cook on the spot over claims that his company’s app marketplace is anticompetitive.
The judge needled Cook on why Apple won’t give consumers the option to buy lesser-priced virtual goods and content directly from developers — and only allows purchases through the iPhone maker’s own App Store, an issue at the heart of the case.
There was an intense exchange in the final minutes of Cook’s testimony when the judge voiced scepticism about Apple’s argument that the benefits of Epic’s antitrust claims do not outweigh its tight controls on how apps are vetted and marketed.
Cook answered questions for more than two hours in federal court in Oakland, California. Even after he repeatedly explained that App Store rules and restrictions aim to ensure a safe and secure platform for consumers and developers, the judge wasn’t satisfied.
“What is the problem with allowing users to have a choice, especially in the gaming context, to have a cheaper option for content?” Gonzalez Rogers asked, according to Bloomberg.
Cook said that consumers “have a choice today” of buying cheaper Android phones over iPhones.
Tim Cook gestures while exiting U.S. district court in Oakland, California, on May 21. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Gonzalez Rogers pressed Cook further by asking him, “what is the problem with Apple” if users wanted an option of paying less outside the App Store to buy the in-game currency used in Epic’s blockbuster Fortnite game, called V-Bucks.
On Friday, the judge returned to the idea of a possible compromise to resolve the antitrust fight, which she had hinted at earlier in the week. Doing away with Apple rules block developers from including a link or other information in their apps to steer users away from the store to buy virtual goods elsewhere online at a discounted rate.
If Apple allowed developers to have links in their apps that point to alternative payment systems, “we would, in essence, give up our total return on our IP,” Cook responded, referring to the company’s proprietary intellectual property.
Gonzalez Rogers didn’t seem convinced and suggested that the App Store “could monetize differently.” Gaming apps seem to be making “a disproportionate amount of money relative to the IP you have given them, and everyone else,” she said. “In effect, it’s almost as if they’re subsidizing everyone else.”
Cook, a soft-spoken 60-year-old who has been CEO since 2011, pushed back against Epic’s claims that were made in August about the App Store juicing profits with unfair and self-serving policies.
Cook testified that it would be “terrible” for iPhone and iPad users if the judge favoured Epic’s demand and ordered the company to allow third-party app marketplaces, in addition to its own App Store.
“It would be a huge convenience issue, but also the fraud issues would go up” because customers would have to enter credit card information multiple times, Cook said.
Epic claims the App Store generates extraordinary margins, reflecting that Apple abuses its market power.
An attorney for the North Carolina-based game developer pressed Cook on his company’s insistence that it doesn’t break out App Store profit separately from other units in the company. One expert witness testified that internal documents obtained from the Cupertino-based tech giant revealed that its App Store had operating margins of almost 78% in the fiscal year 2019. But Cook stood his ground, saying the numbers are inaccurate.
When Apple’s attorney asked whether Cook or Epic’s expert was in a better position to fully understand the context behind the numbers, the CEO said: “I am.”
Under cross-examination by Epic’s attorney, there were multiple occasions when Cook said he couldn’t remember the answer or simply did not know. According to Bloomberg, Cook was also contradicted by evidence that Epic introduced when “Epic’s attorney played a clip of Cook’s remarks from a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting in which he said iOS faces competition from Google’s Android right after he testified that the two operating systems don’t compete.”
When Gonzalez Rogers was questioning Cook, she brought up how banks don’t pay the iPhone maker a cut for transactions that take place through their apps. “You’re charging the gamers to subsidize Wells Fargo,” she said.
Cook reiterated about Apple giving the platform for game transactions for which game makers give Apple a share of their revenue.
“People are doing lots of things on your platform,” Rogers quipped. “It’s just the choice of a model.”
Cook responded that there are “clearly” other ways to make money from the App Store, but Apple “chose this one.”
“It seems to be lucrative and focused on purchases being made” impulsively by users, Gonzalez Rogers said.
Rogers also pointed to a survey submitted in the case on how some developers are dissatisfied with App Store policies. “It doesn’t seem to me you feel any pressure or competition to address the concerns of the developers,” she said.
Cook disagreed.
“We turn the place upside down for developers,” he said.
