Europe

Apple cracks down on users who abuse the 14-day return policy for digital content in Europe

Sébastien Page ∙ January 12, 2015

Users looking to abuse Apple's new 14-day return policy for digital purchases in Europe will be in for a bad surprise, as the company has apparently been taking measures against those that want to dishonestly take advantage of the system.

According to one account from a user who had been abusing the return policy by downloading a dozen apps and requesting refunds after "trialing" them, Apple quickly caught up to the scheme and is now warning him he won't be eligible for refunds for newly purchased applications.

Artists now receiving more revenue from Spotify than iTunes in Europe

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

Spotify seems to have surpassed iTunes in Europe where royalty payments from the popular streaming-music service is now earning artists more revenue than Apple's stagnant music store, which to this date continues to sell music downloads and does not offer all-you-can-eat subscriptions.

At least that's the key takeaway from a survey conducted by Kobalt Music Publishing, which collects royalties on behalf of 6,000 songwriters and music makers in Europe.

According to the data cited Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, Spotify in Europe brought artists an average of thirteen percent more revenue versus iTunes during the first quarter of 2014.

The data seems to corroborate recent findings by the Recording Industry Association of America which found that digital music sales on iTunes dropped between thirteen and fourteen percent globally since the start of this year, with Apple officially confirming the drop in its SEC filing.

Apple poaches NFC and mobile payments expert away from Visa to expand Apple Pay in Europe

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple has hired Mary Carol Harris, former Director of Mobile at Visa Europe to help bring the NFC-based Apple Pay mobile payments system to Europe, PaymentEye reported Monday.

She's been with Visa since 2008 and previously headed up NFC at Telefónica, Spain's leading multinational by market cap and one of the largest private telecommunications company in the world.

Introduced alongside new iPhones earlier this month, Apple's mobile payments solution is scheduled to debut in the United States on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in October, and on the Apple Watch early next year, extending the service to over 200 million owners of the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s devices worldwide.

Harris has fourteen year experience in digital and mobile payments, including NFC technology utilized by the Apple Pay. Harris's LinkedIn profile lists her an employee of Apple Europe.

App economy at work: App Store created 500,000 jobs in Europe and other highlights

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 6, 2014

Apple today released a plethora of freshly-updated stats and pretty charts that paint a rosy picture of the company's positive contributions to the European job market and the continents's economy as a whole.

The so-called app economy is now sustaining half a million jobs across Europe, with a total of 629,000 jobs created or supported by Apple in Europe. Apple paid out $6.5 billion to European app developers so far, representing nearly out-third of the $20 billion the company paid to developers globally.

I've include additional stats and key charts right after the break...

This is what new ‘EU Internet’ switch in iOS 8 Beta 4 does for you

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 28, 2014

The most recent beta of iOS 8 has introduced an easily overlooked new option under the Cellular section of the iOS Settings app. It's called 'EU Internet,' applies only to those traveling in the European Union and is a bit puzzling.

As a quick recap, exorbitant roaming charges for data downloads in the European Union have already been reduced in an effort to make prices more realistic for those using mobile devices outside their home country.

That's just the beginning as the European parliament recently passed a new regulation, currently needing an approval by the Council of the European Union, that promises to render all roaming charges in the EU illegal by December 2015.

As a result, European customers will always pay the same price for all phone calls, text messages and mobile data usage everywhere in the EU...

Apple drops Mac mini prices across Europe, too

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 18, 2014

Apple is on a roll today. First it announced a $200 cheaper baseline iMac model, then we heard about slight Apple TV discounts across Europe and a lot deeper price cut on refurbished Time Capsule wireless base stations and now comes word that Cook & Co. have dropped prices of Mac mini models across key markets in Europe.

That's right, our fans in Europe can now pick up a Mac mini for anywhere between €30 and €60 less (translates to approximately $40 and $82, respectively), depending on the country and model...

Apple drops Apple TV price to €99 in Europe and £79 in the UK

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 18, 2014

Boy, Apple surely seems laser-focused on making its products more price-competitive. Minutes after releasing a $200 cheaper baseline 21.5-inch iMac model, now starting at just $1,099, word comes that its set-top box, the Apple TV which retails for $99 in the United States, has been discounted in the United Kingdom and across the European Union markets....

Apple announces iPhone USB charger replacement program over ‘safety risk’ concerns

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 13, 2014

Apple Friday announced a replacement program for certain USB iPhone power adapters sold in Europe and elsewhere that "may overheat and pose a safety risk". The affected adapters that carry a model number of A1300 have been recalled and will be replaced with a new variant, the A1400 model.

According to the firm's official statement, the five-watt Apple European USB power adapter that "in rare cases" may overheat came with the iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s units.

These iPhones shipped from October 2009 to September 2012 to a total of 45 countries, mostly European. The broken adapter was sold as a standalone accessory, too...

Dutch court upholds sales ban of older Samsung Galaxy devices

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

Recode reports that a Dutch appeals court has upheld a lower court's sales ban of some older Samsung Galaxy devices that infringe on Apple's IP. The patent in question involves how iOS users are able to peak at the next photo in a gallery by swiping the current image.

The ruling will apply specifically to the Galaxy S2, and the Galaxy Ace—both of which include Samsung photo apps that run an exact copy of the feature—and it could possibly be extended to other Samsung devices found to similarly infringe on Apple's European patent...

EU lawmakers drafting legislation that could force Apple to change its Lightning plug

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

EU lawmakers agreed yesterday to draft legislation that will force all mobile phone manufacturers to consent to the use of a common standard for battery chargers which can fit any device. The draft could be voted on by the EU Parliament as early as March 2014.

While many see this as a huge win for consumers, who would no longer have to purchase new charging accessories for different devices, it would be a huge blow to Apple. The company uses a propriety plug, the Lightning connector, in all of its iOS product lines...

Some European Apple Stores now offering interest-free financing

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2013

Apple's Online Stores in some of Europe's biggest markets are running an interesting time-limited promotion with interest-free financing on online purchases above £449 in the case of United Kingdom, which works out to about €400/$540.

Depending on the country, Apple has partnered with major banks to permit shoppers to have their repayments spread across ten or twelve monthly repayments with zero percent interest.

In the United Kingdom, the zero percent interest consumer finance promotion is available with ten monthly repayments on qualifying purchases made through either the online Apple Store for Consumers or the Apple Store for Education between December 2, 2013 and midnight of the January 10, 2014...

Extended AppleCare+ warranty said to launch in Europe soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 29, 2016

AppleCare+, Apple's extended warranty coverage for iPhones and iPads, could soon launch across Europe, if there's merit to a report published yesterday by the French blog iGen. AppleCare+ is currently available only to customers in the United States, Canada and Japan, and can be activated in-store or online within 30 days of a device purchase.

The $99 extended coverage gives you a piece of mind by providing repair or replacement coverage, both parts and labor, from Apple-authorized technicians for AirPort wireless appliances as well as your iPhone and iPad, its battery and the included USB cable and power adapter...