Pokémon Go Creator Niantic Launches Major Update for Augmented Reality Game Ingress

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Before Pokémon Go, Niantic had an augmented reality game called Ingress that was similar to Pokémon Go, tasking players with taking over and controlling real world locations in a virtual world.

Niantic is today introducing an updated version of Ingress, Ingress Prime, a free game on iOS and Android. Ingress players who already have the Ingress app will get Ingress Prime as an update, while new players can download it from the App Store.


Ingress Prime features the same general gameplay as Ingress, where players choose one of two sides (Enlightened and Resistance) and aim to take control of XM energy portals that represent real-world landmarks, but there's an overhauled interface with higher-resolution maps, improved animations, support for one-finger touch movement, swipe shortcuts for attack, inventory, and comms, and inventory improvements.


Niantic rebuilt Ingress Prime using the Real World Platform that's the basis for Pokémon Go, and it's introducing a new storyline built on the existing Ingress backstory. There are new Recursion Prime events going on throughout the month of November, and an Ingress Prime-related anime called Revisions is available.


To help new players get started, there's a tutorial system, and for existing high-level players, there's a new Prestige-style system that lets you reset your level for benefits that carry over.

Niantic says that additional improvements will be made to Ingress Prime going forward, with the Ingress Prime update serving as the beginning of a new focus on Ingress.

Ingress Prime can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

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Apple Debuts New Single Tour and Double Tour Hermès Apple Watch Bands

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Apple this morning added two Apple Watch Hermès Bands to its online store, introducing Double Tour and Single Tour bands in a new three-color Amber/Capucine/Rose Azalée configuration.

The Amber/Capucine/Rose Azalée bands are similar to the other three color bands that Apple introduced alongside new Apple Watch Series 4 Hermès models in September, but in red, yellow, and pink.


Apple's Amber/Capucine/Rose Azalée Swift Leather Double Tour band, priced at $489, is designed to work with all 38 and 40mm Apple Watch models.

The Amber/Capucine/Rose Azalée Swift Leather Single Tour band, priced at $339, is compatible with all 42 and 44mm Apple Watch models.

Both of the new Hermès bands can be purchased from the online Apple Store and should be in retail locations soon. Single Tour and Double Tour Hermès bands in additional colorways are also available at the same price points.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5

Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

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Apple Airpods 2 Might Have Just Received Bluetooth SIG Certificate

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Apple Loses Trillion Dollar Company Status Due to 10% Slide on Stock Market Since Thursday

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AAPL has dipped below the $200 mark at times today, and is down around 10 percent since Apple's earnings report last week, resulting in the company losing its trillion dollar valuation in terms of market capitalization. As of writing, Apple has a market cap of around $950 billion based on its latest share count.


Apple on Thursday reported revenue of $62.9 billion during the fourth quarter of its 2018 fiscal year, an all-time record for the July-September period, but the good news was overshadowed by Apple's revelation that it will no longer disclose iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales on a unit basis starting next quarter.

The news has sparked concerns among some analyst and investors that Apple may have something to hide, as iPhone unit sales in particular were essentially flat last quarter and could begin to decline in upcoming quarters.

Apple's financial chief Luca Maestri said unit sales are "not particularly relevant for our company at this point," as they are "not necessarily representative of the underlying strength of our business." He added that Apple may provide qualitative commentary related to unit sales if the info is valuable to investors.

AAPL is also being dragged down by a questionable report claiming Apple has informed its suppliers to halt plans for additional production lines dedicated to the iPhone XR due to "disappointing demand" for the smartphone.

Not everyone believes Apple's decision to stop reporting unit sales is a bad one. Apple bull Brian White at Monness Crespi Hardt believes the change "makes perfect sense" as Apple's success is "increasingly driven by an ecosystem of product and services on Planet Apple," including rising ASPs.

Apple analyst Gene Munster of Loup Ventures also believes the change will be "a good thing for Apple investors," as "the new reporting method will force the Street to think about Apple's business as a stable and growing service, which should yield a higher earnings multiple in the long run."

AAPL is currently hovering around $199-$201 on the intraday market, down from a closing price of $222.22 on Thursday.

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HyperDrive USB-C Hub for 2018 iPad Pro Adds Ports for 4K HDMI, Headphones, SD Card, and More

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Accessory company Hyper today announced the HyperDrive USB-C Hub for the 2018 iPad Pro. Apple's latest iPad Pro is the first of the company's tablets to include USB-C (replacing the Lightning port), allowing support for third-party USB-C accessories like Hyper's new device.


The HyperDrive for iPad Pro adds six total ports to the tablet: 4K HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card slot, Micro SD card slot, USB-A 3.0, and USB-C Power Delivery. Hyper explains that the accessory features a replaceable C-shape grip that holds the USB-C hub securely onto the iPad Pro.


The device is available in Space Gray and Silver, to match the iPad Pro's colors, and it will work with both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models with and without the Smart Keyboard Folio. The company says that the HyperDrive for iPad Pro will be available in December for $49 for customers who sign up to be notified on its website. Otherwise, the device will run for $99.99.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro

Buyer's Guide: 11" iPad Pro (Buy Now), 12.9" iPad Pro (Buy Now)

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Acer Chromebook Spin 13 review: Dethroning the Google Pixelbook

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Apple Now Has 132K Full-Time Employees, Spent $14.2B on R&D in 2018 Fiscal Year

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Following the conclusion of its 2018 fiscal year, which ended September 29, Apple today filed its annual Form 10-K [PDF] with the SEC. We've combed through the exhaustive, legalese-rich 72-page report so you don't have to.


Highlights:

• 9,000 more employees: Apple has 132,000 full-time employees as of the end of its 2018 fiscal year, up from 123,000 a year prior.
  
• R&D expenses rise nearly $3 billion: Apple spent $14.2 billion on research and development in its 2018 fiscal year, a nearly 23 percent increase over the $11.5 billion it spent in its 2017 fiscal year.
  
• Apple continues to execute its share repurchase program: Apple had 23,712 shareholders of record as of October 26, 2018, down from 25,333 as of October 20, 2017. There were 4,754,986 outstanding shares of Apple stock as of the end of its 2018 fiscal year.
  
• Genius Bar expenses are down: Apple's expenses from warranty claims totaled $4.1 billion in its 2018 fiscal year, down from $4.3 billion in its 2017 fiscal year and $4.6 billion in its 2016 fiscal year.
  
• CapEx to drop: Apple anticipates utilizing approximately $14 billion for capital expenditures during its 2019 fiscal year, down from $16.7 billion in its 2018 fiscal year. The capital is used towards Apple's manufacturing equipment, data centers, corporate facilities, and retail stores.
  
• Apple snaps up more office space: Apple owned 16.5 million square feet and leased 24.3 million square feet of building space as of September 29, 2018. By comparison, Apple owned 13.4 million square feet and leased 23.0 million square feet of building space as of September 30, 2017.

Apple's annual Form 10-K also acknowledges that "international trade disputes" could adversely affect its business, almost certainly referring to an ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China:

International trade disputes could result in tariffs and other protectionist measures that could adversely affect the Company's business. Tariffs could increase the cost of the Company's products and the components and raw materials that go into making them. These increased costs could adversely impact the gross margin that the Company earns on its products. Tariffs could also make the Company's products more expensive for customers, which could make the Company's products less competitive and reduce consumer demand. Countries may also adopt other protectionist measures that could limit the Company's ability to offer its products and services. Political uncertainty surrounding international trade disputes and protectionist measures could also have a negative effect on consumer confidence and spending, which could adversely affect the Company's business.

Apple's annual Form 10-K can be viewed or downloaded in a variety of formats from the company's Investor Relations website.

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