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☆ You got a new iPhone for the holidays. Here's the ultimate guide to getting the most out of it
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Sofia Pitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

In this article AAPL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTiPhone 14 Sofia Pitt | CNBCYou may have gotten Apple's iPhone 14 as a gift for the holidays. How to customize your lock screenApple iPhone lock screen Source: AppleThere are some new cool lock screens on the iPhone 14. Use Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 ProApple's new Dynamic Island feature on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Instead of that blank notch that used to house the selfie camera and microphone, there's a new interactive pill display that has the ability to shape-shift on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. How to turn off the always-on display on iPhone 14 ProAlways-on display toggled off on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

A Michigan woman was arrested after she sent months of harassing text messages to two teenagers, including her daughter, officials said Thursday. From Sept. 13, 2021, to Feb. 20, Licari sent hundreds of "mean" text messages to her daughter and a boy she had been dating, Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main wrote in a report. "The messages are specific in nature indicating that they may be from someone who they know," according to the report. Licari said that "she got caught up in sending the messages and it just continued," the report added. The stalking counts carry a maximum penalty of five years behind bars and the computer counts up to 10 years in prison.

☆ TSMC bucks broader chip slump with 50% revenue surge, helped by Apple iPhone orders
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

TSMC makes chips for a wide array of companies, including the latest semiconductors for Apple and Qualcomm as well as SoftBank -owned Arm. TSMC , the world's largest contract chipmaker, on Friday reported a surge in revenue in November thanks in part to orders of semiconductors for high-end smartphones such as Apple's iPhone. In October and November, TSMC's revenue totaled around $14.1 billion. Apple CEO Tim Cook also attended the event and said the iPhone maker would buy TSMC's U.S.-made chips. While TSMC's November revenue is getting a boost from Apple, analysts are worried about weaker orders next year.

☆ Apple workers in Australia plan Christmas strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies About 200 Apple workers to strike ahead of Christmas weekendStriking workers asking for better work conditions, wagesIndustrial action comes at peak time for Apple salesSYDNEY, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Apple workers in Australia are preparing to go on a strike ahead of Christmas to demand better working conditions and wages, union leaders and staff said, a move likely to hurt the iPhone maker's sales and services in the country. read moreMembers of Australia's Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) are asking Apple Inc (AAPL.O) for fixed rosters, known hours of work, weekends of two consecutive days and an agreed annual wage rise. Striking workers would walk out of Apple's retail outlets at 3 p.m. (0400 GMT) on Dec. 23 and stay away throughout Christmas Eve, usually a peak time for sales of Apple iPhones, watches and other products. In June this year Apple workers in Maryland became the first retail employees of the tech giant to unionise in the United States. Apple workers staged a full day strike in October and also a one-hour walkout later that month.

☆ The clock is ticking for Apple. It officially has 24 months to release a USB-C iPhone under new EU rules.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The European Union set an official deadline for when smartphones sold there must have a USB-C port. Apple previously confirmed it will comply with EU rule, but doesn't seem happy about the requirement. A port-free iPhone that only charges wirelessly may also technically follow the new EU rule, but would represent a bigger shift. EU lawmakers agreed in June to legislation that requires all phones, tablets, and cameras sold in the EU that use wired charging to have the USB-C port. Apple iPhones use the Lightning charging port now for wired charging, and the European market is an important one for Apple that it can't ignore.

☆ Elon Musk plans to charge iPhone app users $4 more for Twitter Blue, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk plans to raise the Twitter Blue price for those paying on iPhones, per The Information. It said Twitter may charge $11 a month for Blue via the iPhone app, but only $7 via its website. The move is likely a reaction to Apple's App Store fees that Musk has criticized, per the report. Musk recently rebuked Apple's App Store policies and accused the tech giant of opposing free speech and monopolizing the market. Platformer reported the launch was pushed back as Twitter was trying to dodge the App Store charges.

☆ Morgan Stanley cuts iPhone shipment estimate by another 3 million units
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Morgan Stanley reduced its Apple iPhone shipment forecast for the December quarter by an additional 3 million units on Wednesday to account for slower production in China. The firm had already cut shipment expectations by 6 million units in November. Morgan Stanley now expects Apple to ship around 75.5 million units, down from its original forecast of 85 million units. Last month, factory employees clashed with security personnel at the Zhengzhou plant in China, the world's largest iPhone factory run by Apple's assembly partner Foxconn. Morgan Stanley analysts said the unrest will impact what is historically Apple's biggest quarter, which is often bolstered by the holiday shopping season.

☆ Apple is accelerating plans to move production out of China as protests and riots intensify in response to zero-Covid policies, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple is increasing its efforts to shift production outside of China, according to the Wall Street Journal. Production at factories like Foxconn has taken a massive hit amid riots over zero-Covid policies. Shifting production will likely be difficult in the current global economic climate, sources told WSJ. In November, the area known as "iPhone City" erupted into violent protests among employees over withheld pay and strict zero-Covid policies that prompted a lockdown in Zhengzhou. The protests, which coincided with the start of the holiday shopping season in the US, have led to significant supply chain issues and shortages of Apple iPhone products.

☆ Covid protests escalate in Guangzhou as China lockdown anger boils
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

TwitterSocial media posts said the clashes took place on Tuesday night and were caused by a dispute over lockdown curbs. China Dissent Monitor, run by U.S. government-funded Freedom House, estimated at least 27 demonstrations took place across China from Saturday to Monday. In Zhengzhou, the site of a big Foxconn factory making Apple iPhones that has been the scene of worker unrest over Covid, officials announced the “orderly” resumption of businesses, including supermarkets, gyms and restaurants. Data on Wednesday showed China’s manufacturing and services activity for November posting the lowest readings since Shanghai’s two-month lockdown began in April. Chinese stocks were steady, with markets weighing endemic economic weakness against hopes that the public pressure could push China to eventually reopen.

[1/6] Police arrive at a protest against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions after a vigil for the victims of a fire in Urumqi, as outbreaks of COVID-19 continue, in Beijing, China, November 28, 2022. Social media posts said the clashes took place on Tuesday night and were caused by a dispute over lockdown curbs. In Zhengzhou, the site of a vast Foxconn factory making Apple iPhones that has been the scene of worker unrest over COVID, officials announced the "orderly" resumption of businesses, including supermarkets, gyms and restaurants. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that protesters in China should not be physically harmed or intimidated. The head of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva flagged a possible downgrade in the fund's economic growth forecasts for China.

☆ Apple's iPhone Pro shipments may fall 20 mln units short of estimates - analyst
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Akash Sriram | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max model shipments could miss market expectations by up to 20 million units in the holiday quarter due to labor unrest at a major Chinese factory, TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said. He trimmed his estimate for quarterly iPhone shipments by about 20% to between 70 million and 75 million units, compared with the market consensus of 80 million to 85 million units. In contrast, other Apple analysts expect sales to pick up once production constraints ease and more Pro models become available. "I can't imagine 2023 will be a solid year for Apple iPhones," said Zeno Mercer, research analyst at investment advisory firm ROBO Global. "Those looking to make an upgrade have, and otherwise disposable income for next-gen phones should be down."

☆ Apple iPhones in short supply on Black Friday as China's COVID-19 lockdown disrupts manufacturing, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple was hit with iPhone shortages on Black Friday while customers shopped for deals. Analyst sees roughly 8 million iPhones sold on the Black Friday weekend, down from 10 million a year ago. Shoppers across the country are reporting shortages of iPhone 14 products, including the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in Apple stores, online retailers, and big box electronics stores, according to a report by Reuters. Online wait times for orders of the new iPhone 14 Pro are now up to 40 days on Apple's website. Ives expects roughly 8 million iPhones will be sold on the Black Friday weekend, down from 10 million a year ago, mainly due to these supply challenges.

☆ Apple iPhone Factory in China Offers $1,400 Payments to Quell Worker Unrest
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Selina Cheng | Yang Jie | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG— Apple Inc. said it was working to resolve worker complaints at the world’s biggest iPhone factory in China, after police were filmed beating protesting employees at the plant this week and employees began an exodus Thursday. Labor groups have criticized Apple for failing to adequately protect the rights of workers at the vast Zhengzhou site, operated by Foxconn Technology Group and where most of the world’s iPhone 14 models are made. Workers clashed with police Tuesday, angry over delayed bonus payments and conditions at the plant, which has been battling an outbreak of Covid-19 for more than a month.

[1/2] The Apple iPhone 14, The Apple iPhone 14 Pro and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max are seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 16, 2022. Similarly, Abisha Luitel wanted to get an iPhone 14 Pro for her 21-year old cousin. In a statement on Nov. 7, it said it expected lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than previously anticipated. Foxconn's plant in China makes Apple's premium models including the latest iPhone 14 Pro, a source told Reuters. At an Apple store in a Bethesda, Maryland mall, an employee said there were almost no 14 Pro and Pro Max in stock.

☆ Exclusive: Foxconn woes could hit at least 30% of iPhone Nov shipments from China plant -source
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Customers shop at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew KellyTAIPEI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Production of Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPhones could slump by at least 30% at Foxconn's factory in China's city of Zhengzhou after worker unrest disrupted operations, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. The estimate was an upward revision of an October internal forecast for production impact of up to 30% at the world's largest iPhone factory, said the source, who sought anonymity as the information was private. read moreFollowing this week's bout of worker unrest at the plant, the source added, it was "impossible" for the company to resume full production by the end of the month - a deadline it had set internally before Wednesday's wave of protests. Reporting by Yimou Lee and Taipei newsroom; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Apple iPhone 14 Pro faces delays over production shortages
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailApple iPhone 14 Pro faces delays over production shortagesApple fans looking to buy the iPhone 14 Pro should expect delays as Apple's factories in China face labor protests and Covid-related lockdowns.

☆ Morning Bid: Gloomy enough?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Asset managers tout a return to beaten-down bonds as a result - even if there's far less enthusiasm for equity in that environment. But the view hinges on economies slowing to a point that drags inflation back down toward 2% targets. So far at least, most incoming economic numbers are less gloomy than forecast. Likewise equivalents for the euro zone, China and the world at large - with UK surprises the most positive since April. The People's Bank of China said it would cut the reserve requirement ratio for banks by 25 basis points.

☆ Buying new iPhone for better camera, battery, faster chip? Cybersecurity got an upgrade, too
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Kaitlin Balasaygun | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Customers shop at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 in New York City, September 16, 2022. Improved low-light photo abilities and the extended battery life may have appeal than security upgrades on the new Apple iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max. While in Lockdown Mode, phone calls, plain text messages and emergency features will continue to work. The switch to eSIM-only phonesSteve Jobs never wanted the original iPhone to have a SIM card tray, and the iPhone 14 models are finally achieving this goal. All iPhone 14 models purchased in the U.S. are eSIM-only, which enables users to easily connect and transfer their plans digitally.

The factory’s iPhone 14 production has been slowed by a labor shortage that began last month, when a Covid outbreak and an accompanying lockdown sent workers fleeing back to their hometowns. China’s “dynamic zero-Covid” measures make it an outlier among the world’s major economies, causing growing public frustration and economic pain. Though officials announced new “optimized” measures this month, they are struggling to ease the burden without setting off a major exit wave. Despite the purported easing of measures in China, a single case can still bring targeted lockdowns and sudden quarantines. Covid measures were further tightened on Thursday in the capital, Beijing, which is already in near-lockdown with schools, parks and shopping malls closed and a negative Covid test required every 48 hours to enter public places anywhere in the city.

☆ China locks down major iPhone making city as Covid cases jump to a record high, sparking concerns that lockdowns could stretch beyond 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China posted a record number of daily Covid cases on Wednesday, amid a surge in the Omicron strain. It stepped up lockdowns in affected areas such as Zhengzhou, home to the world's largest iPhone plant. The restrictions come amid a surge of COVID-19 infections in China. China reported a record high 31,444 local infections for Wednesday, including asymptomatic cases, according to the country's National Health Commission. Despite the surge in COVID-19 infections in China, the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are flat at midday on Thursday.

☆ Violent protests take place near an iPhone factory in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Kriti Gandhi | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Violent protests have broken out in Zhengzhou, China, following contract disputes at the world’s biggest Apple iPhone factory, according to videos posted on social media and verified by NBC News. The footage was taken near the Foxconn factory, in the streets of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, where large groups of people blocked roads during their protest. A worker disinfects the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China on Nov. 6. The protests come after Apple warned earlier this month that it had temporarily reduced iPhone 14 production at this factory because of Covid restrictions. The Foxconn factory has accommodation for over 350,000 people, but it is unclear how many employees are left working at the factory.

You can take $100-$150 off Google's Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 6a during a limited-time deal ahead of Black Friday, available from Google's store and Amazon. In addition, you could get one of these phones for free — or close to it — via Google's trade-in program, if you currently have the right Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, or iPhone. (We called Pixel 6a the best Android phone you can buy for under $500, and it's now even cheaper.) The discounts are the lowest for the Pixel 7 ($100 off $599 for the 128GB model) and Pixel 6a ($150 off $499), and nearly the lowest for the Pixel 7 Pro ($150 off $899 for the 128GB model). Considering that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are brand new, we don't think you'll get a better deal until next year.

☆ Morning Bid: Fearless?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

As bond markets furiously flag a looming recession, stock markets suddenly seem fearless. Wall St's so-called 'fear index' of implied equity volatility (.VIX) fell on Tuesday to its lowest level since August. Put against the deepening inversion of the U.S. 2-10 year Treasury yield curve to its most negative in 22 years, typically a harbinger of recession ahead, the apparent stock market calm is puzzling. Some analysts reckon stock market positioning is already so low and portfolios so underweight equity that demand for downside protection in the options market has waned too. Any hoping for an end to the jump in interest rate rate rises around the world were also disappointed.

☆ China reports 24,473 new COVID cases; some Beijing businesses shut
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Numerous businesses in Beijing's Chaoyang district, the capital's main business and diplomatic area, have shut or announced only limited services. Beijing reported 79 symptomatic and 436 asymptomatic cases for Friday, down from 100 symptomatic and 366 asymptomatic cases the previous day, government data showed. Nationwide, the authorities reported 24,263 daily domestically transmitted cases, of which 2,055 were symptomatic and 22,208 were asymptomatic, down from 25,129 the previous day. Guangzhou, a city in the south of nearly 19 million people, reported 269 new domestically transmitted symptomatic cases and 8,444 asymptomatic cases, compared with 255 symptomatic and 8,989 asymptomatic cases a day before, authorities said. The manufacturing hub of Zhengzhou reported 182 new symptomatic locally transmitted COVID infections and 1,385 asymptomatic cases, compared with 107 symptomatic and 1,556 asymptomatic cases a day before, according to government data.

☆ Covid curbs set off rare unrest in Chinese city of Guangzhou
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING — Crowds of people in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou crashed through Covid barriers and marched down streets in chaotic scenes on Monday night, according to videos posted online, in a show of public resentment over coronavirus curbs. Neither the Guangzhou city government nor the Guangdong provincial police responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. Monday night’s scenes from Guangzhou were the latest outpouring of frustration over Covid curbs that have brought frequent lockdowns and enforced quarantines under a signature policy of President Xi Jinping that China argues saves lives. Last month, a Covid outbreak at a massive Foxconn plant that makes Apple iPhones in Zhengzhou set off chaos, with many workers fleeing, including by climbing fences, hobbling production. “It would become a testing point regarding the government’s determination to push for the relaxation of Covid control measures,” they said.

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