Apple

Most of Your iPhone is Actually Made in the US

Cody Lee ∙ February 1, 2012

Last week, The New York Times ran a controversial piece on the poor working conditions inside the factories of Apple's supply chain. The report detailed awful labor practices including mandatory 60+ work weeks and hazardous working environments.

One of the many questions that arose in the wake of the article is, "why doesn't Apple just make its products here in the USA?" That would mean more jobs for Americans, and labor laws to protect the workers. But what many folks don't realize is that a lot of Apple's handset is already made in the US...

Apple Working on Wireless Mobile Payment System

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

In the months leading up to Apple's Fall iPhone announcement last year, we heard dozens of rumors that never materialized. Obviously the big one was that the handset was going to feature a major hardware redesign, but there were others.

NFC (Near Field Communications) compatibility is another rumor that never panned out. The iPhone 4S launched without any sign of NFC chipsets. But that doesn't mean that the next iPhone won't feature the technology...

Foxconn Planning to Build Five Factories in Brazil to Keep Up With Apple Demand

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

Apple heavily relies on Foxconn for producing its hugely popular iPhones and iPads, and the more business booms for Apple, the better Foxconn does, too.

Foxconn's huge production facilities are apparently not quite huge enough, and now the company is looking at building a further five facilities in Brazil, with the aim of helping it to keep up with demand for Apple devices.

According to AppleInsider, the five new facilities will employ about 1,000 people each...

Thousands of Workers Line Up for New iPhone Production Jobs at Foxconn

Cody Lee ∙ January 31, 2012

Apple's handset business is doing pretty well these days. It recently gave birth to a new model, which seems to be doing rather well, and it's making inroads into a major new market — mainland China.

Of course, when you start selling more phones, you have to hire more people to make them. M.I.C gadget is reporting that thousands of Chinese workers have lined up to apply for new iPhone production positions at Foxconn...

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Samsung

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

Apple may have struck a blow in its current battle with Samsung over wireless technology patents, without actually doing anything.

News broke today that the European Union is launching a formal investigation into Samsung and its potential breach of EU antitrust rules. The investigation itself will focus on FRAND patents which means patent appliciations related to standards must be “fair, reasonable, and on non-discriminatory terms.”

The EU obviously believes Samsung hasn't been acting entirely above board with regards to its current patent dealings with Apple...

Smartphone Makers Reportedly Delaying Handsets to Avoid iPhone 4S Competition

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

The iPhone 4S is selling so well that Digitimes believes the competition is running scared. So much so that the likes of HTC, Samsung, Nokia and LG apparently delaying the release of new handsets until the iPhone 4S sales have slowed.

All the big smartphone players except Apple are expected to show off their upcoming handsets at Mobile World Congress in Spain, but if Digitimes is correct, then we'll have to wait until the second quarter before we can buy them.

Apple's fourth quarter showing was particularly impressive, garnering 23.9% of the market share. Samsung took second place with 23.5%. Behind the big two, Nokia made up the top three with 12.6%...

Apple Appeals Decision About iPad Trademark in China

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

In the latest round of trademark roulette, Apple has appealed a Chinese court decision that asserts a local monitor company owns the "iPad" trademark.

The company in question, Proview, apparently sold a selection of trademarks to a company representing Apple in 2006 but, according to Proview, the iPad trademark for China was not one of them.

Proview had claimed as much back in 2010, saying that it had sold the global trademark for "iPad" to IP Application Development, but that two trademarks in Mainland China were not included...

Why Apple Must Not Rest on its Laurels

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 31, 2012

It seems right now that Apple just can do no wrong. With record sales of its devices and huge amounts of money sat in the bank, it's all very rosy over in Cupertino. But other companies have had successful periods before, only for things to go a little awry in future years.

Despite great results from Apple ever since Steve Jobs returned to the company back in 1997, it wasn't really until the iPhone's introduction in 2007 that the world really took notice of what was going in at 1 Infinite Loop.

Now it's a worldwide phenomenon, with people owning iPhones who would never have contemplated picking up a Mac.

Throw in the beginnings of a tablet market that is still being dominated by the iPad, and Apple have every right to feel smug. But it may not last forever...

Foxconn Stock Reaches Record High on the Back of iPhone 5 Rumors

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Apple may not like it when we all start talking about unreleased hardware, but such speculation doesn't seem to be doing one of its biggest partners any harm.

In fact, Foxconn's close relationship with Apple has seen its stock price skyrocket to an all-time high thanks to extremely strong iPhone 4S sales combined with new rumors of iPhone 5 production.

Foxconn currently manufactures almost 50% of the planet's electronics, with Apple being its most high profile customer thanks to its hugely successful iOS devices in particular...

Apple Predicted to Sell 40 Million iPhones in China This Year

Sébastien Page ∙ January 31, 2012

Speaking about China, analyst Katy Huberty belives Apple is on track to sell 40 million iPhones in China this year:

Investment bank Morgan Stanley believes Apple will partner up with both China Telecom and China Mobile "over the next year" to make its iPhone available on all three Chinese carriers, a move that could bring incremental sales of as many as 40 million units next calendar year.

I believe these numbers to be very conservative, especially if Apple signs a deal with China Telecom.

Record iPad Sales Make Apple the World’s Largest PC Manufacturer

Cody Lee ∙ January 31, 2012

A week ago Apple announced record-breaking results for its latest quarter, selling more iPhones and iPads in the three month period than ever before. In fact, its iPhone sales made Apple the number one smartphone manufacturer in the world (by volume).

And apparently, the company's tablet sales had a similar effect on its position in the computer industry. According to a report by The New York Times, the company that proclaimed the "post-PC" era — Apple — is now the biggest maker of PCs in the world...

Apple Hires John Browett as SVP of Retail

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated April 27, 2017

Apple today announced the hiring of a new Senior Vice President of Retail, with John Browett getting the top job.

Browett, a the former head of Dixons in the UK, takes over from Ron Johnson who left to take up a role at JC Penney last November.

The new hire will start in his new position in April, with Apple CEO Tim Cook seemingly pleased with the new recruit, despite Dixons' poor performance on the UK high street over the last few years...