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IPHONE 14

Apple begins manufacturing iPhone 14 in India three weeks after launch

by Radarr Africa September 26, 2022

written by Radarr Africa

Apple has begun manufacturing its new iPhone 14 in India, narrowing a technology gap with the device’s main manufacturing base of China.

Apple made the announcement on Monday, less than three weeks after the iPhone 14’s unveiling. The company had worked with suppliers to ramp up manufacturing in India and shorten the lag with China in production from the typical six to nine months for previous launches, Bloomberg News reported in August.

“We’re excited to be manufacturing iPhone 14 in India,” Apple said in an emailed statement Monday, confirming the move.

Apple, which long made most of its iPhones in China, is seeking alternatives as Xi Jinping’s administration clashes with the US government and imposes lockdowns across the country that have disrupted economic activity.

Foxconn Technology Group, its primary manufacturer of iPhones, studied the process of shipping components from China and assembling the iPhone 14 at its plant outside the southern Indian city of Chennai, Bloomberg News has reported. That included looking at ways to maintain Apple’s high standards for confidentiality.

Source: Bloomberg

September 26, 2022 0 comment

Business Information Technology Southern Africa Technology

Apple Inc. unveils iPhone 14 to be on sale in SA.

by Radarr Africa September 21, 2022

written by Radarr Africa

Apple Inc. unveiled a new line-up of devices last week with few surprises beyond one major one: It didn’t raise its US prices during one of the worst years for inflation in decades.

According to Bloomberg, at its biggest product-launch event of the year, dubbed Far Out, the company introduced the iphone 14, fresh Airpords Pro earbuds and an Apple Watch upgrade that included a first-ever Ultra model.

The iPhone retains the general look of the older version while getting camera enhancements, a long-anticipated satellite-messaging feature and – on the higher-end models – a new interface called the Dynamic Island.

Apple is betting the new features, along with the lack of a big price hike, will be enough to ward off competition from Samsung Electronics Co and other smartphone rivals. The company now accounts for roughly half of smartphone sales in the US and looks to build on those gains.

Apple shares rose nearly 1% to $155.96 (R2 673) in New York following the presentation. They remain down 12% for the year, part of a broader pullback for tech stocks.

The bulk of the iPhone upgrades are coming to the higher-end Pro line. Those devices will get a 48-megapixel camera and a screen that’s capable of always staying on in a low-power mode, similar to recent versions of the Apple Watch.

That will let the new phones show widgets with bits of information – weather, calendar appointments and stock tickers, for instance – while the rest of the screen remains off.

Apple has redesigned the notch at the top of the screen, essentially turning it into a new interface called the Dynamic Island. The Pro devices also will get the speedier new A16 processor, while the standard line will run a modestly souped-up version of the current A15. Apple describes the A16 as the fastest chip in a smartphone, 40% speedier than the competition.

The standard iPhone 14 models look similar to the iPhone 13 from last year, but with a twist: Apple has dropped the mini version and added a model with a larger, 6.7-inch display.

Camera improvements include a new Action mode for video that helps stabilize shots. And the device embraces the eSIM standard, which dispenses with a physical SIM card. The iPhone 14 also offers car-crash detection, similar to the latest Apple Watch. The standard iPhone 14 will cost $799 (R13 695) with the Plus version coming in at $899 (R15 400).

The iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999 (R17 120), with the Pro Max model costing $1 099 (R18 800).

The standard iPhone 14 is due to be released on South Africa on Friday, 23 September and reports suggest it will cost around R18 000.

Apple’s prices are largely unchanged from last year, despite a US annual inflation rate of 8.5% in July. Its carrier partners also unveiled a slew of promotions Wednesday, including offers for free phones and other discounts.

Some analysts had predicted that increases were coming, but Apple has found more subtle ways to steer customers toward higher price points. By saving its best new features for the Pro devices or other higher-end models, the company looks to upsell more customers.

Apple is expected to command almost 49% of the US smartphone market this year, according to Insider Intelligence, with that increasing to nearly 50% by 2024. The company has made gains on Google’s Android operating system, used by competitors such as Samsung.

The iPhone remains Apple’s most important product by far, generating roughly 50% of the company’s sales on its own and helping fuel additional revenue from services like the App Store and Apple TV+. It also coaxes customers to buy accessories like AirPods and the Apple Watch.

In other changes announced, the iPhone 14 Pro will get a new display with thinner bezels and more active area. The screen is also brighter, at 1,600 nits, the same level of brightness of the Pro Display XDR.

The new satellite service, meanwhile, will let users send SOS messages without a cellular connection. Bloomberg News first reported last year that the feature was coming.

Apple plans to offer it free for the first two years, starting in November. Garmin Ltd, a maker of satellite devices, sells a similar service for about $15 a month.

Even Apple’s new Ultra smartwatch – its push into a higher-end market – was priced lower than anticipated. It will start at $799.

Source: The South African

September 21, 2022 0 comment

Global News Information & Technology Spotlight Technology

No SIM card required for new iPhone

by Radarr Africa September 8, 2022

written by Radarr Africa

Apple launched iPhone 14 on Wednesday at prices similar to recent models despite inflation and supply chain woes, while unveiling a premium digital watch with a price tag to match.

While a 90-minute presentation at the company’s California headquarters did not include any surprise reveals, the tech giant did unveil new digital identification system to obviate the need for a physical sim card.

The company’s newest smartphone, the iPhone 14, costs $799 (R13 900) for the base model – the same price as the current version, while a premium iPhone 14 Pro Max will go for $1 100 (R17 350).

The set of updated products, which also includes new earbuds, is designed to keep customers loyal to its lucrative technology ecosystem.

“Apple continued its strong growth in the first half of 2022, driven by robust demand for the iPhone 13 – which was the best-selling smartphone worldwide,” said Le Xuan Chiew, an analyst at Canalys.

The ability to keep the iPhone prices flat reflected the benefits of diversifying the supply chain to India after China’s zero-tolerance Covid policies crimped production there, the analyst said.

ALSO READ: Brazil fines Apple $2.4m, bans sale of iPhone without charger

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the launch event underscored Apple’s logistics strength.

“Taking a step back, launching 3 new core hardware products within the Apple ecosystem despite the biggest supply chain crisis seen in modern history is a major feat for Cook & Co. especially with the zero Covid shutdowns in China seen in April/May,” Ives said.

Features of the new iPhone 14 include a more durable battery and new photographic capacities to capture “ultra wide” scenes and low-light settings.

The phones also contain an “emergency SOS” function to enable messaging to emergency services when outside of Wifi coverage.

The iPhone 14 Plus comes in a giant 6.7-inch (17-centimeter) screen that offers a better experience when playing games or watching videos.

Company officials touted new digital watch products with enhanced features. The Apple Watch Series 8 – which can monitor body temperature and other body functions – prices at $400.

The company also unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra, priced at $800, which includes a battery with enough lifespan for hardcore athletes “to complete a long-course triathlon,” according to an Apple press release.

Neil Saunders, analyst at GlobalData Retail, described the new offerings as having “incremental improvements rather than groundbreaking new innovations,” adding that the company “has done enough to drive demand by persuading consumers to upgrade and indulge in its new products.”

Source: News 24

September 8, 2022 0 comment