Friday, March 27, 2020

Apple Suppliers Worried About iPhone Demand, Production Ramp-Up for New iPhones Reportedly Postponed

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Most of the factories in China that supply devices and components to Apple are back to churning out products, but Apple suppliers are said to be worried about how much demand there will be for the current iPhone models and the new iPhones expected in the fall.


According to Reuters, a senior official at one of Apple's major supply companies said that orders for quarter ending in March are likely to drop 18 percent compared with the previous year. Production ramp-up for new 5G iPhones has also been postponed, though the official said it is still possible iPhones could launch as scheduled.
"No one is talking about manpower or material shortage (in China) anymore. Now everyone is looking at whether demand from U.S. and Europe could keep up," said the person, who has direct knowledge of the matter. "The focus now is the demand from consumers in the U.S. and Europe."
An Apple display supplier that had anticipated shipping 70 million ‌iPhone‌ displays to Apple is considering lowering that target to 58 million as well as reducing the workforce at its Apple production lines in Vietnam.

One supplier in Malaysia, a country now facing shutdowns, says that things are changing "on a day by day basis" because of ongoing supply chain disruptions.

Some suppliers are not expecting a drop in demand, however. An ‌iPhone‌ sensor supplier told Reuters that the current quarter was better than last year, and that the second quarter will also likely see a higher volume of shipments. "We are still producing as per the forecast given to us," said the source.

A report from Nikkei earlier this week suggested that Apple is considering delaying the 2020 iPhone launch by months, but that no decision had been made yet. The same report suggested that some suppliers have been asked to defer mass production schedules for two to three months, which is also mentioned in Reuters' report.

DigiTimes this morning said that suppliers who make printed circuit boards for the ‌iPhone‌ had not been asked to postpone volume production for components designed for the 2020 ‌iPhone‌, so there seem to be mixed reports coming from the supply chain at this time.

A week ago, Bloomberg said that the iPhone 12 models are still on course for a fall launch, so whether there will be changes to Apple's typical September ‌iPhone‌ launch plans remains to be seen.
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Zoom Updates iOS App to Stop Sending Data to Facebook

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Zoom, a video conferencing app that many people are using at the current time to keep in touch with coworkers while working from home, was sending data to Facebook without disclosing the data sharing to customers.


As of today, Zoom has updated its iOS app to remove the SDK that was providing data to Facebook through the Login with Facebook feature, according to Motherboard, the site that first discovered Zoom's data sharing practices.

Zoom was providing Facebook with data that included when a user opened the app, plus their timezone, city, and device details. Zoom's privacy policy did not make it clear that the data was shared with Facebook.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Zoom said that Zoom was unaware that the Facebook SDK was collecting unnecessary device data.
"Zoom takes its users' privacy extremely seriously. We originally implemented the 'Login with Facebook' feature using the Facebook SDK in order to provide our users with another convenient way to access our platform. However, we were recently made aware that the Facebook SDK was collecting unnecessary device data."

"The data collected by the Facebook SDK did not include any personal user information, but rather included data about users' devices such as the mobile OS type and version, the device time zone, device OS, device model and carrier, screen size, processor cores, and disk space."

"We will be removing the Facebook SDK and reconfiguring the feature so that users will still be able to login with Facebook via their browser. Users will need to update to the latest version of our application once it becomes available in order for these changes to take hold, and we encourage them to do so. We sincerely apologize for this oversight, and remain firmly committed to the protection of our users' data."
Motherboard has since verified that the iOS app is no longer sending data to Facebook when it is opened.
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On The Run to 100K level-up: and down the stretch we come!


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Apple Watch Series 6 Could Feature Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, Pulse Oximetry and Sleep Tracking Support

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The upcoming Apple Watch Series 6 set to be released this fall could include a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the crown of the device, according to Israeli site The Verifier, which cites "senior sources" who have worked with its staff for a "number of years" as the source of the rumor.


It's not clear how the alleged ‌Touch ID‌ fingerprint sensor would be implemented, as the Digital Crown is already used for capturing an ECG in the current ‌Apple Watch‌ models with an included electrode.

A ‌Touch ID‌ fingerprint sensor sounds like somewhat of an odd feature to add to the ‌Apple Watch‌, but it could potentially alleviate the need for a PIN when putting on the ‌Apple Watch‌ in the morning. The ‌Apple Watch‌ already unlocks when the iPhone is unlocked, but unlocking it on a standalone basis requires a numerical code to be entered.

The ‌Apple Watch‌ itself also uses skin contact as a biometric authentication option for Apple Pay payments and other functions. In the ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 7, The Verifier claims that the ‌Touch ID‌ fingerprint sensor will be relocated to the display, but two drastic ‌Touch ID‌ tweaks in two years may be questionable as Apple tends to make fewer changes to ‌Apple Watch‌ hardware.

Apple's next-generation ‌Apple Watch‌ is also said to include an improved battery, broader support for LTE, and support for WiFi 6.

The Verifier also outlines some of the features coming to watchOS 7, many of which we've heard before. watchOS 7 will allegedly include a "fresh design," updates to built-in apps, and improvements to Siri, with little other information included.

Echoing other rumors, The Verifier says Apple is working on pulse ox monitoring for the ‌Apple Watch‌ and sleep tracking capabilities. Pulse oximetry support would allow the ‌Apple Watch‌ to measure the oxygen levels in the blood, making sure a person's oxygen saturation does not drop to a dangerous level, which can be indicative of a serious and immediate problem that needs to be addressed.

Sleep tracking is a feature that we've heard a lot about in recent months, with Apple expected to introduce sleep monitoring capabilities in the near future. Sleep tracking would measure metrics like time asleep and sleep quality.

According to The Verifier, watchOS 7 will be compatible with the ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 3 and later, with Apple planning to drop support for the Apple Watch Series 2 and earlier.

The Verifier last week claimed that tvOS 14 will feature a new Kids Mode with content geared towards children and a Screen Time feature to measure time spent watching TV.

In the past, The Verifier has shared some questionable information that has not panned out, so it's worth viewing these rumors with some skepticism until confirmed by another source.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 6
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

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Deals: Nomad Offering 50% Off Kevlar Lightning and USB-C Cables With Purchase of Wireless Charging Base Station

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Nomad has a "Power Combo Sale" going on this week, providing 50 percent off any one of Nomad's Kevlar charging cables when you purchase a Base Station. Nomad Base Stations are sturdy wireless charging hubs that can charge iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches starting at $99.95.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Nomad sells the regular Base Station at $99.95, which can wirelessly charge two devices at the same time. It also comes in a Walnut option at $139.95. Both of these chargers also have two out ports (one USB-A and one USB-C) and a padded leather surface to protect your devices.

If you want to add your Apple Watch onto the stand, the Base Station Apple Watch Edition includes an Apple Watch Charger that supports Nightstand Mode, priced at $149.95. This leaves room for two devices to wirelessly charge on the mat, as well as two additional devices via USB-A and USB-C.

When you purchase one of these Base Stations, you can choose from nearly a dozen charging cables at half off. Nomad sells USB-C to Lightning cables (from $39.95), USB-A to Lightning (from $34.95), universal cables (from $24.95), and USB-C to USB-C (from $29.95).

As long as you have a compatible Base Station in your cart, you can add any of these Kevlar cables into your cart and you'll see the 50 percent discount automatically applied. Nomad's cables feature double-braided Kevlar and are built for extreme durability and heavy everyday use.

Under this sale, you can get the 3 meter Lightning to USB-C Cable for $22.48, which is about $13 cheaper than Apple's first-party 2 meter cable at $35.00. Nomad also has a new "Work From Home" collection that highlights some of its best products for anyone who is practicing social distancing.
Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station From Jackery

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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Jackery to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station, which is Jackery's highest-capacity power station option. Jackery makes a range of UL-certified power stations at varying price points.


The Explorer 1000, priced at $999.99, features a 1002Wh capacity, 1000W rated power, and 2000W surge power so it's robust enough to meet the power supply needs of most electrical appliances, making it perfect for emergency backup situations in the home, RV use, camping, and more.

There are multiple ports available for charging several devices at one time. There are two 18W PD USB-C ports, two 12W USB-A ports, one DC carport and three AC outlets. It can power cameras, TVs, computers, communication devices, grills, and medical equipment like CPAP machines.


Design wise, the 22-pound Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station has a handle to allow it to be easily transported, and there's an LCD screen that features charge/discharge info and battery life.


With an optional solar charger, the Explorer 1000 can be recharged even when power is not available. It recharges in seven hours from an AC outlet or within eight hours using two 100W SolarSaga panels from Jackery. It can be stored, and should be charged every three to six months when used as an emergency backup solution.

We have one of the Explorer 1000 Portable Power Stations to give away to a MacRumors reader. To enter to win our ‌giveaway‌, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the ‌giveaway‌ restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

Jackery
The contest will run from today (March 27) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on April 3. The winner will be chosen randomly on April 3 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Jackery is also offering a five percent discount on its Explorer 500 Power Station, dropping the price to $474 with promo code XWPETM6S.
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