Month: February 2019

Another Group FaceTime Bug prevents adding more users to an existing call

CompuScoop Staff February 19, 2019 0

Apple’s patch to close an exploit in Group FaceTime is only partially successful, as some users are reporting the service is preventing them from adding more contacts to a FaceTime call that is already in progress, an issue that Apple seemingly knows about,” Malcolm Owen reports for AppleInsider.

“Apple’s iOS update to 12.1.4 largely consisted of a bug fix for a widely-publicized Group FaceTime exploit,” Owen reports. “While the update effectively re-enabled the feature, with iPhone and iPad users able to set up Group FaceTime calls once again, not everything appears to have been solved by the patch.”

“While users can commence both standard two-person FaceTime calls and Group FaceTime calls of three or more people, in some cases it is not possible to switch from a FaceTime call to a Group FaceTime version. In some cases, the option to ‘Add Person’ is not available during a FaceTime call, preventing the addition of more participants to a call,” Owen reports. “A reader of MacRumors has reportedly received a confirmation from Apple Support that it is a known issue, but with no timescale for a fix.”

Analysts: Apple’s iPhone price cuts in China provided only temporary improved sales

CompuScoop Staff February 19, 2019 0

Apple’s attempts to boost its iPhone sales in China via price cuts offered only a temporary effect, according to Rosenblatt Securities, with post Chinese New Year sales reportedly seeing little in the way of improvement in a depressed smartphone market,” Malcolm Owen reports for AppleInsider. “”

“Apple took advantage of the Chinese New Year to offer significant price cuts on the iPhone, a move that seemed to have worked. Between January 11 and January 30, Apple product sales reportedly rose 83 percent, with retailer Tmall seeing a 76 percent surge in sales during that time,” Owen reports. “According to analysts from Rosenblatt Securities in an investor note seen by AppleInsider, the boost is short-lived. ‘After analyzing recent data points from Chinese retail channels, we believe price cuts provided little benefit to iPhone sales in the Chinese market,'” wrote Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang.”

Owen reports, “The temporary benefit of the sale was also noticed by analysts at UBS on Thursday, which noted the price adjustments are ‘not yet having much positive impact on iPhone units.'”

Read more in the full article here.

Apple Pay now available in Saudi Arabia

CompuScoop Staff February 19, 2019 0

Apple Pay is now rolling out to users in Saudi Arabia,” Chance Miller reports for 9to5Mac. “The launch was first rumored over the weekend and now users in Saudi Arabia can add compatible cards to Apple Pay on their devices.”

“Thus far, we know that Apple Pay in Saudi Arabia is supported by Al-Rajhi Bank and Riyad Bank,” Miller reports. “MADA, or The Saudi Payments Networks, has also confirmed that it will support Apple Pay in the country.”

“Apple first teased the launch of Apple Pay in Saudi Arabia back in October, but never offered a specific launch date,” Miller reports. “In November, Apple Pay launched in Belgium and Kazakhstan.”

Read more in the full article here.

Report: Huawei tried to copy Apple Watch Heart Rate Sensor by asking Apple Supplier to Share Secrets

CompuScoop Staff February 18, 2019 0

“In a new report from The Information, the site details a few purported anecdotes of Huawei trying to steal Apple trade secrets,” Benjamin Mayo reports for 9to5Mac. “The tactics involved Huawei engineers appealing to Apple’s manufacturers and suppliers with promises of big orders, but instead using the opportunity to pry on processes specific to Apple’s component production.”

“In one example, Huawei engineers working on a smartwatch met with a supplier last fall. According to the report, the engineers tried to eke out specs about the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor by making promises of big orders,” Mayo reports. “In another case, a Huawei engineer sent a photograph of a material to the Apple supplier asking them to ‘feel free to suggest a design you already have experience with.’ The supplier reportedly refused to cooperate.”

Mayo reports, “The Information says there is also suspicion that Huawei copied the 2016 MacBook Pro’s thinner hinge design.”

Read more in the full article here.