Your Tech Story

Apple

Vietnam

Apple to open the first online shop in Vietnam

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

In response to slow-moving iPhone sales in China, Apple announced on Friday that it would launch its first online shop in Vietnam the following week.

Only a few weeks have passed since the first Apple stores in India, in Mumbai and Delhi, were launched by the Cupertino, California-based business.

Vietnam
Image Source: siliconangle.com

Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is placing his bet on developing regions, where there are fewer iPhones and a younger age group, which will present more growth potential.

Also Read: UK restricts Microsoft, Activision from buying interest in each other

Apple did not specify when it will be opening actual retail outlets in Vietnam, which comprises a “100 million-person” population.

“We’re proud to be expanding in Vietnam,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of retail.

Source: finance.yahoo.com

Retail stores frequently open before they go online. Licensed retailers currently sell Apple gadgets in Vietnam, and the company has several suppliers who assemble its devices there for exportation.

During India’s holiday shopping season in 2020, Apple opened its first online shop there.

“We’re proud to be expanding in India and want to do all we can to support our customers and their communities,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People. “We know our users are relying on technology to stay connected, engage in learning, and tap into their creativity, and by bringing the Apple Store online to India, we are offering our customers the very best of Apple at this important time.”

Source: apple.com

Discounts according to a federal plan to increase domestic mobile manufacturing in India were granted in October for 16 companies, including prominent Apple suppliers.

After staging a protest over unpaid salaries in December of that same year, contract employees at Apple partner Wistron’s Bengaluru facility trashed the building. Apple placed the plant on probation before allowing it to resume manufacturing two months later.

In December 2021, after over 250 female employees who live in one of the business dorms received medical treatment for food poisoning, riots broke out at the Foxconn facility in Tamil Nadu.

The facility was shut down for more than three weeks when Apple discovered that the facilities did not satisfy the necessary standards.

The same year, the competition regulators in India request a probe into Apple’s in-app pricing scheme because it initially believed the iPhone manufacturer had broken several antitrust regulations.

Pegatron, a supplier of Apple, opened its first iPhone assembly facility in the Tamil Nadu province in September 2022.

Foxlink, an Apple vendor that makes iPhone chargers, temporarily ceased operations at its manufacturing factory in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh for several weeks in February 2023 after a significant fire caused a portion of the structure to collapse.

Rapid Security Response

What is Apple’s rapid security response?

Leave a Comment / Story, Tech Story / By

Apple on Monday made the initial release of “rapid security” updates available to the public in an effort to quickly address security flaws that are being actively exploited or represent a serious risk to its users. The so-called Rapid Security Response upgrades, according to a notice, “deliver important security improvements between software updates.”

Rapid Security Response
Image Source: 9to5mac.com

Rapid Security Responses were made available so that Apple consumers may update their devices more quickly than it normally takes for a software update.

Apple claims that the feature is turned on by default and that, with some exceptions, some quick patches can be downloaded without a reboot.

Also Read: Is advertising the future of streaming?

For users of iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1, the rapid security update is now available. After being installed, it will change the software version to a letter, such as iOS 16.4.1(a), iPadOS 16.4.1(a), and macOS 13.3.1(a).

The quick security fix won’t be available to users of earlier versions of Apple’s os. In later software updates, according to Apple, fixes will be added.

The deployment on Monday, however, hasn’t gone as planned. Some customers reported having trouble installing the update. On an iPhone, iPad, and Mac used for testing by TechCrunch, the upgrades were downloaded but were not instantly installed.

Researchers have recently found new exploits created by spyware producers QuaDream and NSO Group that target iPhone users worldwide. Both spyware producers took advantage of previously unknown flaws in Apple software that let their government clients steal data covertly from a victim’s device.

Citizen Lab reported last month that Apple’s Lockdown Mode, a feature introduced last year to thwart similar targeted attacks, had effectively stopped at least one NSO-developed attack that took advantage of a flaw in HomeKit, the company’s smart home feature.

Apple’s rapid security response refers to the company’s approach to quickly identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in its products. Apple has a dedicated team of security experts who work to proactively identify potential security risks and develop solutions to mitigate them.

Additionally, Apple has implemented various security measures such as two-factor authentication, encryption, and sandboxing to prevent unauthorized access to its products and services. In the event that a security vulnerability is discovered, Apple typically responds quickly by releasing a software update to address the issue.

The company also works closely with security researchers to identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Overall, Apple’s rapid security response is an essential aspect of the company’s commitment to protecting its users’ privacy and security.

Password Manager

How can we use Apple’s new All-In-One Password Manager?

Leave a Comment / Story, Tech Story / By

A password manager can create secure passwords for all of your services and then save them. But since these apps can be difficult to master and, at best, aren’t free, the majority of people don’t use them.

Even those who are aware of the benefits of using two-factor authentication and password manager rarely do so because it seems tedious to download and maintain yet another app.

Password Manager
Image Source: wired.com

So, if you use Apple devices, you no longer require additional apps: You can even link your gadget with a PC running on Windows to store your passwords and obtain two-factor authorization codes for you.

Also Read: Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service in the US

The fact that Apple offers this feature is fantastic for this reason. On the other hand, it has a drawback: it is somewhat muted if not entirely buried. Even so, this feature allows Safari users who own multiple Apple devices to rapidly generate and save strong passwords for each of their accounts.

Check that the iCloud keychain is turned on in the System Settings on the device you are using. You might need to enable the feature there to get started. Installing iCloud for Windows, which syncs passwords with Chrome or Microsoft Edge, is also recommended for Windows users.

Start using the devices and saving passwords as you go to add passwords to Apple’s secret password manager. There is typically a pop-up prompting if you want to keep your password when you sign in for any account on the internet in Safari or in any other application on the iPad or iPhone. For autofill, use the iCloud Keychain.

The simplest method of adding accounts is to simply click the “Save Password” button, which will save both your username and password. Alternately, if you’re creating a new account, you’ll typically be given an automatically created strong password; if not, type it in the field to the right of the password box on mobile devices or at the top of the keyboard.

Also Read: What’s new in Apple’s iOS 16.4 update for iPhone users?

On the desktop, one may press the key symbol. In either case, you ought to see the option to “add a new password,” which can produce a secure password for you automatically. Your device will now prompt you to enter your login information and password when you log into the website going forward.

The login and password boxes will normally be filled up when your identity has been verified using TouchID, FaceID, or the system’s password. By doing this, you can avoid having to remember the usernames and passwords you use to log onto websites.

Baidu

Baidu sues Apple, app developers over fake Ernie bot apps

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

The Chinese search engine Baidu has filed a lawsuit against Apple & “relevant” app developers allegedly selling counterfeit versions of its newly released Ernie bot application on the App Store. The artificial intelligence-powered chatbot Ernie has been regarded as the most competitive substitute for the US-developed ChatGPT in China.

Baidu
Image Source: lbcgroup.tv

ChatGPT’s immediate rival is Baidu’s Ernie chatbot. It is a Baidu AI product that has reportedly been in production since 2019. Yet it was only made available a short time after ChatGPT went global.

Also Read: Amazon plans to trim employee stock awards amid tough economy

According to the business, Ernie is fully capable of processing natural language and can converse, answer questions live online, write articles, write codes, etc.

On Friday, Baidu declared that it has registered cases in Haidian People’s Court, Beijing, against Apple and also the app developers who created the knockoff editions of its Ernie bot. There isn’t yet an official Ernie app accessible, according to a comment from Baidu on its main “Baidu AI” WeChat account.

“At present, Ernie does not have any official app,” Baidu said in a statement late on Friday posted on its official “Baidu AI” WeChat account.

“Until our company’s official announcement, any Ernie app you see from App Store or other stores are fake,” it said.

Source: reuters.com

Baidu also uploaded a picture of its court document, emphasizing that until a formal notice is made, any Ernie apps that seem to be accessible through the App Store or any other stores are fake.

Apple has not made any comment on the circumstances yet. According to a search done by Reuters on Saturday, at least four applications with the Mandarin name “Ernie bot” are still available on the App Store, but they are all fake.

As per Baidu, those who have gotten legitimate access codes are the only ones who can access the Ernie bot. In its comment, the business also issued a warning against people who try to sell access codes.

Also Read: Meta releases AI model that can identify items within images

The AI-backed chatbot known as Ernie, meaning “Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration,” was introduced by Baidu in March of this year. Because of the popularity of ChatGPT powered by Microsoft, Chinese businesses and tech companies are racing to develop a rival.

Baidu’s cloud platform currently enables businesses to include the bot in their services by submitting a request. Originally, the Ernie bot was only obtainable to a small set of customers with invitation credentials.

Apple

Apple wins U.S. appeal over patents in $502 mln VirnetX verdict

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

In the long-haul dispute between the two corporations regarding privacy-software technology, Apple Inc. convinced a U.S. appeals court to retain a patent tribunal’s decision that would jeopardise a 502 million USD award for patent licencing company VirnetX Corporation on Thursday.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s judgement to invalidate the two rights that VirnetX claimed Apple had violated was upheld by the U.S. Appeals court for the Federal Circuit.

Apple
Image Source: communicationstoday.co.in

The ruling was disappointing, according to VirnetX Chief Executive officer, Kendall Larsen, and the corporation is thinking about asking for a rehearing or trying to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

Also Read: Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service in the US

After that decision was made, VirnetX stock dropped more than 14 per cent by Thursday afternoon. Immediately following the company’s announcement that it will distribute a special cash dividend to its stockholders and expected a possible future payment from the Apple lawsuit, the stock had increased by 55 per cent before the decision had been made public.

A call for comment from an Apple spokesperson elicited no immediate response.

The 13-year legal conflict between the two firms has involved numerous trials & challenges. After finding that Apple violated the VPN (virtual private network ) rights question in Thursday’s verdict, an East Texas court fined VirnetX 502 million USD in 2020.

Apple has filed a separate appeal of the judgement on its own behalf, although the Federal Circuit has not yet made a decision. Both sides argued that maintaining the decree cancelling the patents would probably also invalidate the jury verdict when the court heard mixed statements in the two cases in September.

“If the court upholds the (USPTO’s) decision, we have a big problem,” VirnetX attorney Jeff Lamken of MoloLamken said at the September hearing. “I don’t think we have an enforceable judgment.”

Source: finance.yahoo.com

Also Read: Apple announces new classical music app

On Thursday, the Federal Circuit upheld findings made by the USPTO’s Patent Trial & Appeal Board that the rights were ineligible due to prior works that had similarly described discoveries.

In a different case, VirnetX triumphed against Apple in 2016 with a 302 million dollar judgement that was subsequently enhanced to 440 million dollars in an East Texas court. The case involved claims that the technology giant had incorporated its internet-security technology into functionalities like FaceTime video conversations.

buy now pay later

Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service in the US

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

Apple became the newest business to join the buy now, pay later trend on Tuesday when it introduced a feature in its digital wallet that enables users to pay for their online purchases in installments.

Customers can now split purchases into four equal payments over the course of six weeks thanks to the new Apple Pay Later feature, with the first payment owing at the time of transaction.

buy now pay later
Image Source: ft.com

Apple customers can also use the Wallet app to ask for loans that range from $50 to $1,000 with no fees or interest charges in order to carry out online or app-based purchases.

Also Read: Apple announces new classical music app

Based to a company release, the method of payment is currently being made available to a small number of American users, with intentions to make it available to all eligible consumers over the course of the ensuing few months.

The feature was first hinted at by Apple last year. In the face of high inflation and general economic uncertainty, an increasing number of consumers are turning to buy now, pay later services to extend their budgets.

The same payment choice is also available through popular services like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay. However, some economists and pro-consumer activists have expressed worry that these services might lead consumers to incur more debt.

Based to a company release, the method of payment is currently being made available to a small number of American users, with intentions to make it available to all eligible consumers over the course of the ensuing few months.

The feature was first hinted at by Apple last year. In the face of high inflation and general economic uncertainty, an increasing number of consumers are turning to buy now, pay later services to extend their budgets. The same payment choice is also available through popular services like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay.

Also Read: Is Apple working on a secret project to help people with diabetes?

However, some economists and pro-consumer activists have expressed worry that these services might lead consumers to incur more debt.

The latest feature is “designed with users’ financial health in mind,” according to Apple. According to Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, “there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to how people manage their finances. Many people are looking for flexible payment options, which is why we’re excited to provide our users with Apple Pay Later.”

Future loan payments can be monitored and managed in the Wallet app for Apple users. The company claims that any loan registration can be made through the app without having an impact on credit.