Apple in Talks for First Order from Chinese Chipmaker Nikkei

Apple soon going to get chips manufactured from Chinese firms

Apple has been developing its own chips for quite some time and but the rising costs in last few years has finally made it give away the manufacturing to China. Currently Apple is in talks with a Chinese firm named Yangtze Memory Technologies to buy storage chips as per report from Nikkei.

This would also be marked as the first when Apple is indulging in buying chips from the Chinese manufacturers. It is worth noting that these chips will be used only for the new iPhone models as well as other products which will be sold exclusively in the Chinese market only.

Apple performance in Chinese market

As per the Nikkei report Apple has a quite profitable and influential share of the Chinese market. In 2016 Apple market share went down to 9.6 % from 13.6% which was attributed to the rise of the local players like Oppo, Vivo and Huawei who had brought high end specifications to the budget segment.

Things weren’t good just a couple of years for Apple in the China market as it market grew just by 9%. Apple iPhone 6 and 6S variants of iPhone were the best performing device from the Apple so far while iPhone 7 simply failed to capture the attention of the users. But the launch of the iPhone X has simply turned the tide in favour of Apple by bringing back the high end innovation right into the play.

Apple relies on China for manufacturing

Apple has boosted its growth in terms of unit sales with each passing thanks to the efficient manufacturing capabilities of its Chinese partners. It can be easily said that China has played a vital and crucial role in the rise of the iPhone is the last decades due to massive on time production capabilities.

Apple supply chain is quite complex as it brings together different for its iPhone specifically from different parts of the world namely France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Italy, Netherlands and others. Apple does stick the made in China label in all of its devices as the majority of the parts are sourced locally in China while some of the part is outsourced to Taiwan as well.

This year round Apple has relied on the China to produce the iPhone 8 and iPhone X devices along with the others. Apple’s iPhone X also became the first flagship device from Apple to break the one grand dollar price tag barrier which resulted lower than the expected sales in later months but it didn’t put any dent to the overall revenue of the firm.

The decision of sourcing storage chips seems to be a good move on part of the Apple to save more on the chips so it can keep offering the next batch of devices without causing a steep increase in the sale price. Both Apple and Yangtze Memory have refrained to provide any information or comment on this development as reported by the Nikkei.

Apple Invents an Optical System for a Future VR and AR Headset

Apple’s concocting a New Optical System for VR and AR Headsets

Looks like the Cupertino based company, is planning something for their VR and AR headsets. Recently there was news of a patent being published in which Apple seems to be cooking up a new optical system design for their VR and AR headsets and if this news is to be believed, then Apple may be coming up with a lighter and more comfortable VR or AR headset.

This new patent is all about bringing down the weight in using an AR or VR headset. It’s not certain as of now when products bearing this patented tech will be released, it could be months or years or maybe not ever, only time will tell and of course Apple will when they are ready. It’s no surprise that the company has ambitions to deliver a new VR or AR headset in the future but will this new AR or VR headset bear this new optical system or not is the question.

What is the optical system patent actually about? 

Recently the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently published a patent in which Apple has come up with a new optical system that is aimed at making AR or VR headsets much more comfortable and lighter to use. Although the end product maybe years away from the production line, it still helps to know what Apple is up to at the moment.

Microsoft’s HoloLens and Facebook’s Oculus VR Rift Headsets all share something in common besides that they are meant for VR, they can be heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Long hours wearing such a device on the head can become tiring and cumbersome to wear. Apple has even called some of the headsets out there having optical systems that are bulky and not that comfortable to wear.
What is Apple’s new Optical System About?

The published patent details an optical system in which Apple has come out with a new technique/ optical system known as the Catadioptric system. This optical system is not all together new, it has been used as a basis in optical telescopes, telephoto lenses and microscopes. But it is the first time that such an optical system will be thought of for AR or VR headsets.

The catadioptric System is an optical system that uses a combination of curved mirrors and lenses to create a mix of refraction and reflection that does away with magnifying lenses which are used to make visual content larger in the standard optical systems used in AR or VR headsets and that is the primary reason why standard headsets bearing this type of magnifying lens is heavy and cumbersome to use.

With this optical system in mind, Apple can not only reduce the weight of its AR or VR headsets but also slim down the size of the Headsets too.

Until now it is not clear whether and if Apple will ever come to use this optical system in their VR or AR headsets. Right now Apple is playing a waiting game to see how the market will play out and whether VR headsets are here for the long haul or not.

Apple Says a Processing Error Led It to Send Developers Wrong App Install and Ad Spend Details

The recent past, we distinguished and stated on how Apple was conveying developers’ emails by means of a regular set up as well as ad pay out niceties for some developers’ applications. In the present day, Apple has hurl out a memo to developers to articulate that a dispensation error grounds the quandary, as well as that in the upcoming it will barely fling alerts through email, however that developers will need to record in to their reports to make out a few real figures or else other particulars. Louis D’hauwe - one of the developers, distributed a message from Apple express regret for the boo-boo, which come into sight cramped merely to a number of developers by means of the company’s new-fangled Search Ads Basic rank of promotion:

The corporation believed that to steer clear of whichever tribulations such as this in the upcoming, developers will require signing into their accounts to inspect their control panel with particulars. The recent past mess exposed particulars on the subject of apps by the Search Ads Basic check, together through how various bed in every app was receiving, the outlay per set up, as well as the entirety used up. At the same time as called attention recently, not merely might developers not would like to contribute to perceptive info such as this among new developers, however they may be for the most part dejected if the information was shared in the midst of straight players.

Search Ads Basic was commenced merely some months before, during last year, as well as is meant on together new developers and persons who are in a minute opening out by search ads. Apple is having a jiffy level of tune-up that is meant at better ad buys, among additional statistics spots as well as charged on a cost per impression charge fairly than cost-per-install.

In cooperation products give emphasis to a pair of motivating tendency just about Apple as well as the App Store. In the company of millions of application at present on the marketplace athwart together web along with indigenous set-up, notice vestiges a test for a lot of developers, as well as in suspense for virility or else advertising in added types unaided to endorse an app may not be sufficient for the most part.

Attached among that, in a backdrop endemic by means of devious “development scythe” system, Apple has detained the flash to offer somewhat that it could be in command of more itself, as well as create a small income from it to boot. Its incentive: beds in put on from these ads are prejudiced more greatly than further set up from other promotional way, as Apple believes them “Top class.” In receipt of the protection for developers exactly around those ads as well as ad services must and will be measured element and tract of whether Apple beyond doubt is distributing on that value oath.

Apple Watch Series 3 Smartwatch to Launch

Apple launched the Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) on 9th Feb. The GPS version of the Watch Series 3 was launched in Singapore in September 2017.

The Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) version can be used while you are on the go. It does not need to be connected to the iPhone all the time.

The Apple Watch Series 3 built-in cellular allows you to stay connected. You can receive notifications, answer calls and lots more without actually having the iPhone near at hand. Payments too can be made using Apple Pay with this watch.

As of now, the Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) can only be used with the Singtel mobile line. Singtel is offering the NumberShare plan ($6.90 per month) whereby the phone number, data and talktime are shared with the cellular watch.

Features 

The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in two models, the GPS and the other; the GPS and Cellular version. Both the versions have a 70 percent faster dual-core processor for downloading apps at a faster rate, smoother graphics and allowing the use of Siri through the built-in speaker. Apple Watch Series 3 has a new wireless chip whereby the WiFi speed is enhanced by 85 percent and the Bluetooth and WiFi are more power efficient. The Apple Watch Series 3 will be beneficial to health and fitness enthusiasts. There are coaching features added like water resistance 50 meters and a barometric altimeter to measure relative elevation, outdoor exercises and flights climbed.

The Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) has a full LTE and UMTS cellular radio which switches to cellular when the iPhone is not near at hand. The number for the watch and the iPhone will be the same. When the 3rd generation Apple Watch is paired with AirPods, one can enjoy the wireless experience. The display of the watch acts as an antenna to transmit and receive calls for LTE and UMTS, and has an in-built eSIM, little over one-hundredth the size of the regular SIM, so that over-the-air activation is possible without compromise on the space.

The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in varied colours and styles. The Apple Watch Series (GPS + Cellular) comes in Grey, gold or silver aluminium or with silver or black stainless steel cases along with various bands. The (GPS) version is available in gold, silver or grey aluminium cases with a Sport Band. They are lightweight and designed to provide a comfortable fit to the wrist.

If you want to take your fitness to the next level, stay in good health, be more connected and active, then Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) is the watch for you. It provides smart coaching, has a heart rate app, you can listen to your favourite tunes and also have an interactive Siri experience. It can be used while swimming, can track a casual jog or an intensive workout, track activity levels.

All-in-all, the Apple Watch Series (GPS + Cellular) makes your body your main priority.

The Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) comes at a price of $598.

Why iPhone Night Shift Mode is Big Deal

Night Shift Mode in iPhone and how it could improve Your sleep

We sometimes or maybe always use our phones before we sleep, although we have tried hard to kick the habit. This so called habit of ours leads to us getting very bad sleep. Our phone screens emit a light known as blue light that helps us see the screen in bright sunlight. This feature seems to work in the night also. Blue light has a way of affecting our melatonin production which causes us to get very bad sleep in the night. iPhone’s night shift mode hopes to change all that.

The blue light that phones emit in the night causes our brain to get mixed signals and that is when our melatonin production is affected. Melatonin is a hormone that gives our body sleep cues. Without it, we have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep leading to a host of health problems. With iOS 9.3’s night shift mode the blue light on the iPhone screen is toned down.

How Blue Light Affects the Brain and how night shift mode helps us? 

Blue light basically affects an individual’s melatonin production that makes it difficult to not only get sleep but also to stay asleep. But the blue light on our screens can harm us in other ways too. By not getting proper sleep your neurotoxin levels are affected and this in turn will make it even harder for a person to fall asleep.

Not getting a good night’s rest will affect your memory in the long run and make it harder to remember things too. The blue light in our phones, by affecting melatonin production, also takes a toll on our mental health. Besides being fatigued, low melatonin levels increase the chances of depression.

Causing disruption to melatonin levels will in fact affect other hormones too such as those that control hunger causing associated problems like obesity. The other problems that can result from the harmful blue light could be cataract, cancer and could also affect the retina in a person’s eye.

iPhone users that can’t use F.lux, a feature that allows you to tone down blue light levels when needed, don’t need toworry. With iOS 9.3, users get something that is known as night shift mode. With night shift mode a user can control the blue light setting on your iPhone. Night shift mode allows you to set a timing when your phone will start dimming the blue light emitting from the phone.

The screen becomes warmer as the blue light is dimmed by the night shift mode on the phone. Many users who updated to iOS 9.3 feel their eyes less stressed with the night shift mode. Although how much the night shift mode is going to help a person sleep when they have other sleep related problems is anyone’s guess.

Anxiety, stress related issues and other problems from using a phone at night all can affect an individual’s sleep pattern, this makes it difficult to see whether the night shift mode is effective or not.