Apple's iPhone 8 launch: 7 stocks to watch out for today

Apple Inc will unveil new iPhones today at its Apple Park 'spaceship' campus

When Apple Inc unveils new iPhones on Tuesday at its Apple Park “spaceship” campus, there may be important clues for the watchers of seven semiconductor stocks.

Apple exerts a sun-like gravitational pull on the global electronics supply chain, affecting the pricing of commodities like flash memory chips - it consumes 18 percent of global supply. The iPhone maker can make or break small, specialty chip suppliers.

The final tally of semiconductor winners and losers will not be known until the devices ship and analysts rip them apart to examine the circuit boards. That will give insight into matters like the continued battle between Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc to supply so-called modem chips for mobile data.

Even the limited technical information Apple gives on stage tomorrow could shed light on how several other companies are faring. Here are seven stocks to watch during today’s launch.

LUMENTUM

Lumentum Holdings Inc makes what are instead known as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, or VCSELs for short. These are a key component of 3D sensors that could power some of the expected features of the new flagship iPhone, such as the ability to unlock the phone through 3D facial recognition.

The company said it has received $200 million in orders for these lasers since April. Lumentum says it has multiple customers, but most analysts believe Apple is behind the surge in orders. Read Full Story >>>

Apple to start making iPhone 6 and 6S models in India over next two months

Contract manufacturer Wistron will manufacture iPhones at its Bangalore plants

Apple Inc. will soon start assembling iPhones in India for the first time, say government officials familiar with its plans, boosting the company’s chances of gaining a foothold in the fast-growing market.

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron Corp. will likely start making iPhone 6 and 6S models here in the next four-to-six weeks at its plant in Bangalore, said an official of the southern state of Karnataka where the tech hub is located. It will add Apple’s cheapest iPhone model, the SE, to its assembly line in about three months, the official said.

“Almost all preparations have been done for launching Apple’s first phase project in Bangalore through Wistron,” the official told The Wall Street Journal.

“We’ve been working hard to develop our operations in India,” an Apple spokeswoman said. “We appreciate the constructive and open dialogue we’ve had with government about further expanding our local operations.” A Wistron spokeswoman said the company doesn’t comment on “rumor or speculation.”

With sales cooling in China, long an engine for Apple’s growth, manufacturing iPhones locally would help Apple address what analysts say is its biggest problem in India: its smartphones are simply too expensive for the vast majority of people.

Smartphone shipments in India grew 18% last year, compared with 3% globally, according to Counterpoint Research, but the majority of phones sold here cost less than $150.

The iPhone SE, which some online retailers now sell for as low as $330, is still out of reach of most Indian consumers. (read more…)

Apple releases red iPhones, cuts prices on lower-end iPads

The iPad Air 2 is replaced by a new model simply called the iPad costing $329

Apple is refreshing and cutting prices on two of its iPads, but held back on updating its higher-end tablets.

A much-speculated 10.5-inch iPad didn't materialise, nor did new versions of iPad Pros aimed at businesses and creative professionals.

Apple unveiled the new iPads through a press release rather than a staged event, the opposite of the process reserved for bigger product releases, which typically are unveiled in September or October, in time for the holiday shopping season.

The tablet market is in an extended decline after a few years of rapid growth. According to IDC, tablet shipments fell 20 percent, to 53 million in the final three months of 2016, compared with the same period in 2015.

The iPad Air 2 is replaced by a new model simply called the iPad. It retains a 9.7-inch screen, but the display is brighter and the processor faster. Its price starts at $329 for 32 gigabytes of storage, down from $399.

The smaller, 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4 now comes with 128 gigabytes of storage starting at $399, down from $499. It's eliminating 32-gigabyte model, which used to sell for $399. Read More

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6 ways to secure your mobile phone against attackers in 2017

Cyber attacks are a real threat to businesses and individuals alike.

Cyber attacks are a real threat to businesses and individuals alike. In 2015, CNN reported that nearly 1 million new malware threats are released daily. In 2017, these types of cyber attacks are still a threat. Today, most people spend more time browsing the Internet on their phones than they do on their desktop computers, but many people still fail to secure their mobile devices. Keep your phone safe from hackers and cyberattacks with these six security tips.

Keep Your Software Updated

Software updates can be a pain, but there’s a good reason to ensure your operating system and apps are all up to date. One of the ways hackers get into mobile devices is through holes or bugs in old software programs. Software updates help patch these holes and make it harder for hackers to get in. To keep your phone’s software up-to-date, enable automatic app updates, and be sure to take advantage of any operating system updates your service provider offers.

Install an Antivirus App

It sounds like a no-brainer, but according to CNBC, only 14 percent of people actually install antivirus apps on their phones. There’s no reason your phone shouldn’t be protected. Free apps like Avast Antivirus and Security will scan your apps and URLs for malware and even allow you to PIN protect private apps. You can also scan Wi-Fi to improve security. The pro version offers more features, as will paid versions of other antivirus apps, but if money is the main factor in going without protection, the least you can do is download a free security app and utilize the simple features it offers.

Lock Your Phone

It’s another no-brainer when it comes to mobile phone security, but still half of Android users opt out of using a password, PIN, pattern, or fingerprint to secure their mobile devices. You may not think it matters much. Any attacker is going to get in through malware or other types of wireless attacks, right? Wrong. Read More

India is the apple of CEO Tim Cook's eye as iPhone sales spike over 50%

India is the apple of CEO Tim Cook's eye as iPhone sales spike over 50%

India has become one among the fastest growing markets for Apple, which is looking at increasingly offloading more iPhones in the country to offset the decline in the device’s sales globally.

iPhone sales in India were up by 51% during the nine months that ended June 30, company CEO Tim Cook revealed during an earnings call with analysts and investors. “We're looking forward to opening retail stores in India down the road, and we see huge potential for that vibrant country,” he added.

On the contrary, iPhone sales have fallen for two straight quarters now as the global market for smartphones especially developed markets) becomes saturated. In its third quarter (April-June), Apple reported a 15% drop in iPhone sales from 47.5 million units in the corresponding quarter last year to 40.4 million units.

The iPhone contributes to over 60% of Apple’s earnings, making it the most important device in the company’s lineup.

Read More | Business Standard

Apple gears up for technology integration with Cisco

Apple gears up for technology integration with Cisco

Technology giant Apple is working on plans to facilitate integration of Cisco's Spark business collaboration service with iPhones in an effort to offer enterprise customers a better calling experience over Internet.

Apple chief Tim Cook has said the company is making iOS devices to work better on Ciscotechnologies than any other mobile platform.

"With iOS 10, we are making it easier to make and receive voice and video calls over IP (Internet Protocol). Now, Cisco Spark will integrate with iPhone for first-class calling experience. It's a seamless integration," Cook said in a video message at the Cisco Live Conference here.

Last year, Cisco had forged a strategic partnership with Apple, under which it optimised its network for iOS devices and apps, integrating iPhones with its solutions and providing collaboration capabilities on iPhones and iPads.

"Together with Cisco, we believe that we can take the work experience to the next level by ensuring that iPhones and iPads work together with Cisco technologies," Cook said.

Apple has been working closely with Cisco teams to help create a seamless experience of Cisco software and network on iOS gadgets.

The iOS integration with Spark will give users access to contacts, 'recents', and favourites. Users will also be able to answer calls directly from the lock screen.

Apple is bringing Siri to Mac & third-party apps, says WSJ

Apple is bringing Siri to Mac & third-party apps, says WSJ

Tech giant Apple is likely to bring Siri, its computer programme that works as an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator, to the Mac.

The company will also give developers access to Siri so that they can incorporate it into their apps.

The announcement is likely to be made during the week-long Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off Monday, the Verge quoted the Wall Street Journal as saying.

Apple introduced Siri as an iPhone feature in 2011, creating a way to find information or complete tasks by speaking to the phone instead of typing or tapping.

Siri uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Web services. The software, both in its original version and as an iOS feature, adapts to the user's individual language usage and individual searches with continuing use and returns results that are individualised. Read more.

Apple to cut production of latest iPhones

Apple Inc is expected to cut production of its latest iPhone models by about 30 per cent in the January-March quarter due to mounting inventories, the Nikkei reported, rattling the nerves of investors in the US giant’s Asian suppliers.

As inventories of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have piled up since they were launched last September, production will be scaled back to let dealers go through their current stock, the business daily reported.