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Category: Electronics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Electronics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Apple makes a power play for your subscription dollars

    Apple makes a power play for your subscription dollars

    As previously reported by Mark Gurman, Apple Insider at Bloomberg News, Apple is showing clear signs that it intends to double down on its subscription strategy. From making significant changes to AppleCare and introducing the Apple Invites app for iCloud+ subscribers, these moves signal a clear push towards recurring revenue and a desire to integrate more services into its subscription ecosystem.

    Starting with AppleCare, the company is reportedly streamlining its device protection offerings, but this simplification comes at a cost. Previously, customers could choose between two AppleCare tiers: a standard plan covering typical hardware issues like cracked screens and battery problems, and a more comprehensive plan that also included coverage for theft and loss. If your phone went missing or was stolen, the premium plan would get you a replacement device, albeit with a deductible. Now, Apple is eliminating the basic plan altogether. This means the only option available is the more expensive theft and loss coverage, and that price is going up by 50 cents a month.

    Beyond the price hike, it’s also been reported that Apple will also be changing how you pay for AppleCare. Instead of the option to pay upfront for two years of coverage, customers will now be required to subscribe either monthly or annually. This shift to a subscription model locks users into recurring payments, further emphasizing Apple’s focus on predictable revenue streams. While some may appreciate the flexibility of monthly payments, others may miss the option for a one-time, longer-term payment.

    As you may have seen last week, Apple is also sweetening the deal for its iCloud+ subscribers with a new perk: the app and web service called “Invites.” This new app is Apple’s take on event planning apps like Partiful, aiming to simplify the process of organizing gatherings, from birthday parties to other special occasions. The app integrates with your photo library and music collection, allowing you to easily share memories and create a personalized experience for your guests.

    The iCloud+ tie in lies in that while users without a subscription can still download the Invites app to RSVP to events, the clear intention is to incentivize more people to sign up for a paid iCloud+ plan. By bundling this new app with iCloud+, Apple is hoping to demonstrate the added value of its subscription services and entice users to join the ecosystem. It’s a clever strategy: offer a unique and useful feature exclusively to subscribers, thereby making the subscription more attractive.

    According to Gurman, these latest changes reinforce the company’s commitment to subscriptions and its strategy of offering a range of interconnected services. As a consumer, I am wondering if further changes like these will be coming down the line as well from Apple, as the company looks for more opportunities to strengthen its bottom line.

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  • The iPhone SE 4 will be introduced in just days

    The iPhone SE 4 will be introduced in just days

    The eagerly awaited iPhone SE 4 could be unveiled next week, as soon as February 11th according to Bloomberg. While the so-called “budget model” could be introduced in days, it might not be released until later in the month according to sources who are familiar with the matter. The iPhone SE 4 will be the first iPhone SE model to do away with the old-school design. Instead of holding a new product event for the new iPhone. Apple will reportedly announce its arrival on its website.

    The iPhone SE 4, codenamed V59, is expected to replace Touch ID with Face ID and feature the edge-to-edge display that debuted with the iPhone X in 2017. To help it run Apple Intelligence, even though the phone’s design is based on the iPhone 14, the phone will be powered by the 3nm A18 application processor that runs the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It also will be equipped with 8GB of RAM, the minimum amount of memory required to run Apple Intelligence.

    In another first for the iPhone SE 4, the device will reportedly feature the brand new in-house designed and developed Apple 5G modem chip replacing the Snapdragon 5G modem that Apple has been using. If things go well, Apple’s modem chip might be used on all of the new iPhone 17 models expected to be released next September.

    Inventory of the current iPhone SE 3 model, released in 2022, has been drying up at U.S. Apple Stores, typically indicating that a new model is on the way. Customers coming into Apple’s retail locations seeking a certain configuration of the device have been turned away because of the lack of inventory. To show how hard it is to find the iPhone SE 3 in the U.S., Bloomberg says that the iPhone SE 3 in red with 256GB of storage isn’t shipping in the U.S. until March. However, it appeared to us that February 8th is the shipping date for all such variants of the device for orders placed in Apple’s online store.

    The iPhone SE 3 starts at $429 for the 64GB model, rises to $479 for the model with 128GB of storage, and tops out at $579 for the unit with 256GB of storage. Considering the new changes to the iPhone SE 4 and the recent 10% tariff on imports from China to the U.S., pricing for the iPhone SE 4 in the states could be higher than the cost of the currently available model.

    Besides unveiling the iPhone SE 4 on February 11th, we could see Apple also introduce the PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds. The big news here is that they could be the first earbuds from an Apple brand to include a heart rate monitor, a feature Apple wants to include with future AirPods.

    Returning to the rumored specs for the iPhone SE 4, Apple plans on relying heavily on computational image processing by equipping the phone with only one rear camera backed by a 12 MP sensor. This is also what Apple is supposedly planning for the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air model that could be released this coming September. Google got away with doing something similar for years on its early Pixel models. Despite using just one 12 MP camera on the back of the Pixel 2 XL, for example, Google’s computational photo capabilities helped to give Pixel devices a reputation for taking great photographs.

    The iPhone SE 4 will reportedly have an aluminum build, an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, and a 3279 mAh capacity battery. The latter is the same capacity battery used to keep the lights on the iPhone 14. The latest word on the notch vs. Dynamic Island battle for the iPhone SE 4 comes from the co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants Ross Young. With a very high mark for accuracy, Young says that the iPhone SE 4 will feature the notch.

    In case you were wondering, the OG iPhone SE was released on March 31, 2016 with a 4-inch display, 2 GB of RAM, and it carried the Samsung built A9 application processor. The latter was built on Samsung’s 14 nm FinFET process. The price of the device started at $399 for the 16 GB model and rose to $499 for the 64 GB version.

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  • Apple needs a new Steve Jobs

    Apple needs a new Steve Jobs

    Since early 2024 it has been quite clear that Apple is trying its hand at new product categories in an attempt to secure another source of revenue. From the canceled car project to the Apple Vision Pro, the company is struggling to come up with the next big thing. And as Apple insider Mark Gurman points out in his newsletter Power On: that just won’t fly.

    A company as big as Apple can coast by on its existing products for a while. The iPhone and Apple’s accessories make up a major share of the company’s yearly revenue. But to stay at that coveted spot amongst the other giants of the world Apple will need to innovate and give consumers a reason to give it their business.

    And yet this massive and highly successful company has been failing to do that for years. Not because its new devices are bad — on the contrary most of them are top of the line — but because Apple is failing to connect with the consumer as it once did.

    When Steve Jobs passed away, current Apple CEO Tim Cook had a strategy to keep shareholders’ faith in the company: senior employees who barely work. This worked for a long time and designer Jony Ive’s work continued to help Apple put out unique and interesting products. After Ive left in 2019 it feels like most of Apple’s offerings have started stagnating.

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  • With iOS 18, you can remotely take control of your mom’s iPhone to help her solve an issue

    With iOS 18, you can remotely take control of your mom’s iPhone to help her solve an issue

    This might have happened to you. If not, it’s bound to. You’re enjoying an evening at home when you get a call from your mom. Her iPhone has received an update but she doesn’t know what to do. You know exactly how to send her to the software update but vocalizing the directions to your mom might not be a good idea. After all, her iPhone is the first smartphone she’s ever owned after years of being the poster mom for Consumer Cellular. You can’t drive over to see her since she’s on the other end of the country, but thanks to iOS 18, there is something you can do.

    As long as both you and your mom are using an iPhone running iOS 18 or later, or an iPad powered by iPadOS 18 or later, you can remotely control your mother’s iPhone screen and show her exactly how to fix her issue. Requesting remote control of her screen is done via the FaceTime app on a video or audio call. You also must be listed in your mom’s Contacts if you’re going to take over her screen.

    Here’s how you are going to make this happen. Call your mom on FaceTime. When she answers, tap on the Share button. In the Share Sheet that will pop up, tap on Ask to Share. Then, ask your mom to tap on the Share button on her screen. That will allow you to see a blurred image of your call because you are then viewing things through her FaceTime app. Ask her to go to her home screen.

    Once she opens her home screen, you can start sending her drawings that can serve as directions since they will show up on her device. You want to send her to the new software update so you can draw an arrow to the Settings icon. Or, you can tap to animate a circle that will highlight on her iPhone display the area you tapped. Drawings and animations will blow away like dust in a windstorm so that the display doesn’t get too cluttered.

    Once mom understands what you are showing her, you can drop control of her device by tapping the Control button on your screen. She can stop you from having control any time by tapping the Stop button on her screen. At that point, you can still draw on her device. To end the sharing of the screen, ask mom to tap the Share button on her iPhone or iPad.

    Obviously, you can offer remote help to anyone with the same Apple device as you whether it is an iPhone or iPad. It doesn’t have to be your mother who can benefit from your knowledge although we’d bet that for many of you, mom will be the first person you help using iOS 18’s FaceTime Remote Control.

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  • Indonesia says Apple’s $100M investment proposal inadequate

    Indonesia says Apple’s $100M investment proposal inadequate

    Indonesia said a $100 million investment proposal from Apple to build an accessory and component plant was not enough for the country to allow the tech giant to sell its latest iPhone model, its industry ministry said on Monday.

    Indonesia in November banned sales of Apple’s iPhone 16 after it failed to meet requirements that smartphones sold domestically should comprise at least 40% locally-made parts.

    Indonesia has also banned the sale of Alphabet’s Google Pixel phones over a similar lack of use of local components.

    Indonesian authorities last week said Apple had put forward the investment proposal to lift the sales ban.

    Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    “We have done an assessment and this (proposal) has not met principles of fairness,” Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita told a press conference, comparing the proposal to Apple’s bigger investments in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand.

    Apple has no manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, but has since 2018 set up application-developer academies, which Jakarta considers a way for the company to meet local content requirement for the sale of older iPhone models.

    Companies usually increase the use of domestic components to meet such rules through partnerships with local suppliers or by sourcing parts domestically.

    Agus said Apple had an outstanding investment commitment of $10 million it should have carried out before 2023. He also wanted Apple to commit to new investment until 2026.

    The ministry would invite Apple to visit Indonesia to negotiate further, Agus said.

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  • Apple says it will invest $100 million in Indonesia if the country ends iPhone 16 sales ban

    Apple says it will invest $100 million in Indonesia if the country ends iPhone 16 sales ban

    Back in October 2024 word got out that Apple was facing an iPhone 16 sales ban in Indonesia. Ministers in the country demanded that Apple renew a certificate that is issued when at least 40% of the components used in a device sold in Indonesia are sourced from the country. The last certificate Apple received for the iPhone has expired and needs to be renewed. To renew the certificate Apple will need to work out deals with local manufacturers, develop an app in the country, or work out an innovation development scheme.

    Apple is also a little shy of the investment in the country it previously promised which was supposed to add up to 1.71 trillion rupiah ($109.6 million). Thus far, Apple has invested 1.48 trillion rupiah ($94.53 million) in Indonesia which is slightly short of the amount the tech giant said it would invest. As a result, Apple has been unable to sell any of the four new iPhone 16 models in Indonesia and that will continue to be the case until Apple agrees to increase its investment in the country and receive a new certificate.

    Apple has started to work out an innovation development scheme by creating Apple Academies in the area. So far three of these have been built with a fourth one announced last April. The Academies are for aspiring app developers.

    With the sales ban, those Indonesians wanting to buy an iPhone 16 model will have to pick up the device overseas and at the same time, add on an import fee. The base iPhone 16 model, priced at S$1,299 ($994) will require an additional import fee of $155 to bring the phone from Singapore to Indonesia.

    According to a new report, Apple has increased its offer to invest $100 million in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, over the next two years. That is a huge increase of 10 times Apple’s previous proposal to invest $10 million in a factory in Bandung, located southeast of Jakarta, that would make accessories and components. While Indonesia has yet to give an answer to Apple’s latest proposal, the Ministry of Industry wants Apple to focus more on research and development for the iPhones released in the country.

    Indonesia has also blocked the sale of Google’s Pixel 9 handsets in the country for a similar lack of investment in the country on Google’s part. There is plenty of potential for both Apple and Google to make thins right in Indonesia. More than half of the country’s population of 278 million consumers is under 44 years old and is considered tech savvy.

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  • The Fitbit Ace LTE gets new features for your active kids and family this holiday season

    The Fitbit Ace LTE gets new features for your active kids and family this holiday season

    The Fitbit Ace LTE is getting a whole bunch of new updates just in time for the holidays. These new features are designed to keep families connected, active, and having fun together.

    One of the most exciting new features rolling out is Family Chat. Now, families can communicate directly through their Ace LTE devices or the Ace app. This will be perfect for coordinating schedules, sending quick reminders, or just checking in with each other throughout the day.

    However, if you are looking for a way to get the whole family moving, Fitbit Ace LTE now has a new feature called “Family Quests.” This feature includes challenges that encourage everyone in the family to work together to unlock rewards. For example, this Thanksgiving, you and your family can complete the “Turkey Berserkey” quest by hitting your activity goals. It’s a fun way to bond and build healthy habits.

    Fitbit has also partnered with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to add 50 new Daily Quests. These bite-sized challenges help kids learn about things like sleep, nutrition, and even geography. Plus, there’s a new game in the Fitbit Arcade called “Solar Sword” that lets kids defend their village from monsters. The more they move, the more game time they unlock.

    To make it even easier to track their progress, there are two new watch faces called Noodles. These sleek designs help kids see how close they are to reaching their daily activity goals.

    And if you’re looking to save some money this holiday season, we got you as we have gathered some great deals on the Ace LTE and its accessories for you. From November 21st through December 4th, you can save $50 on the Ace LTE and $20 on Ace LTE bands at the Google Store. Plus, if you’re buying for siblings, you can get 50% off your second Ace Pass annual plan from now through January 31st, 2025. Additionally, we have included discounted options from Amazon and Woot below.

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  • Indonesia blocks Apple from selling iPhone 16

    Indonesia blocks Apple from selling iPhone 16

    Indonesia has blocked Apple from selling the iPhone 16 in the country but still allows travelers to bring it in for personal use.

    The iPhone 16, released in September, is not permitted for domestic sale because PT Apple Indonesia has yet to meet the country’s requirement of 40% local content for smartphones and tablets, the Ministry of Industry said in a statement on Oct. 25 as reported by Bloomberg.

    Each traveler can bring up to two iPhone 16s into Indonesia, according to the Jakarta Globe.

    Between August and October, around 9,000 iPhone 16 units were brought into Indonesia as personal belongings with taxes paid, data from the ministry shows.

    Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita mentioned on Oct, 22 that Apple has yet to fulfill its commitment to investing 1.7 trillion rupiah (US$108 million) in Indonesia to secure a license for local sales. So far, Apple has invested 1.5 trillion rupiah.

    Apple’s older products can still be sold in Indonesia.

    Samsung Electronics and Xiaomi have set up factories in Indonesia to comply with the domestic content regulations introduced in 2017. Other ways to boost local content include sourcing materials or hiring workers in the country, according to Bloomberg.

    Apple on Oct 11 said that it was “deeply committed to Indonesia and excited to bring all of our latest products, including the iPhone 16 line-up, to our customers as soon as possible.”

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  • Amazon confirms the Kindle Oasis will be discontinued

    Amazon confirms the Kindle Oasis will be discontinued

    Fresh on the heels of the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition announcement, Amazon confirmed that it’s retiring its last Kindle e-reader to feature physical buttons, the Kindle Oasis.

    The information doesn’t really come as a surprise considering the e-reader made its debut on the market more than eight years ago. What’s surprising is that many of those who bought the e-reader when it was launched are still using it. There’s an entire thread on reddit where Kindle Oasis users express their love for Amazon’s e-reader.

    Unfortunately, Amazon’s rep Devon Corvasce told The Verge that “once current inventory of Kindle Oasis sells out online and in stores, we will not restock the device. Today, all of our devices are touch-forward which is what our customers are comfortable with.”

    The Kindle Oasis can no longer be bought from Amazon, as the e-reader’s page mentions the product is “currently unavailable,” and that’s probably how it will stay until all stock is depleted. The Oasis will probably be completely removed from Amazon’s website in just a couple of months.

    After its original launch back in 2016, the Kindle Oasis received some updates in the form of two new versions, which landed in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Since then, Amazon focused completely on releasing touch-only Kindle models, which made the Oasis rather obsolete.

    Still, it would have been nice for Amazon to have at least one Kindle model that features physical buttons in its portfolio, as many customers prefer the Oasis over the newer models.

    Thankfully, if you’re more of a traditional person who prefers their e-readers have physical buttons, there are plenty of alternatives from the competition like the Kobo Libra, Kobo Sage, Pocketbook Verse Pro, Onyx Boox Page or the Hi Reader Pro.

    Some of these are better than others, but what’s important is that e-readers with physical buttons are still a thing, despite Amazon’s decision to discontinue its only model with this specific perk.

  • Singapore’s Dyson disappoints union with 1-day notice layoff

    Singapore’s Dyson disappoints union with 1-day notice layoff

    A workers’ union in Singapore has expressed disappointment in household appliance maker Dyson for informing it of a layoff only one day in advance.

    The United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI) said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the company only gave it a one-day notice about the layoff on Tuesday, which was “unacceptable.”

    The move did not give sufficient time for the union, Dyson and the affected workers to discuss the matter to ensure employees’ interest and welfare are supported, it added.

    It has brought the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Manpower.

    Dyson, which did not disclose the number of workers it had let go, said that the company had “respectfully informed UWEEI in advance.”

    The company was following all prevailing guidelines from the Ministry of Manpower and providing employees with the support they need, including outplacement services and employment assistance programs, it added.

    The layoff came three months after it announced a global restructuring that involved about 1,000 job cuts in the U.K.

    The company said at the time that Singapore employees were “not directly impacted” by the plan.

    Some employees told Channel News Asia that the retrenchment exercise was done “very discreetly” and came as a surprise.

    “People are shocked and have low morale, as they are not sure when their turn might come,” a laid-off employee spoke on condition of anonymity.

    Dyson is known as a manufacturer of high-end vacuum cleaners, air purifiers and bladeless fans. It opened the first Singapore office in 2007 and chose the country as its global head office in 2019.

  • Samsung to invest $1.8B more in northern Vietnam

    Samsung to invest $1.8B more in northern Vietnam

    A subsidiary of South Korean electronics giant Samsung that has operations in the northern province of Bac Ninh is set to invest another US$1.8 billion there.

    The memorandum of understanding for investment by Samsung Display Vietnam, which was signed Sunday and witnessed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, is meant for expansion.

    Samsung Display Vietnam reported profits of $283.6 million on revenues of $6.8 billion in the first half of this year.

    Samsung, the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, has $22 billion in the country, half of it in Bac Ninh province.

    Four factories in Vietnam contributed around 30% of Samsung’s global revenue in the period.

    Bac Ninh authorities on Sunday announced approvals for $5.5 billion worth of foreign investments in various projects, including by Apple suppliers Foxconn and GoerTek.

    The government seeks to make the province a dynamic economic and cultural hub of the north linked with Hanoi.

    By 2050 Bac Ninh hopes to become among the economic leaders of Vietnam. It also aspires to become one of the top global centers for high-tech industries, research and development and smart manufacturing.

  • iOS 18 launch date revealed: here’s when you can update your iPhone

    iOS 18 launch date revealed: here’s when you can update your iPhone

    The time has come for Apple to officially announce its new iPhone 16 series, alongside other new devices, and, of course – the exact day you can expect the iOS 18 software update.

    At today’s so-called Glowtime event, the Cupertino giant made it official – iOS 18 is coming to supported iPhones on September 16. The release day for iPadOS 18 is also that one.

    This is the day iPhone 16 users can update their software and get all the promised iOS 18 features, although if you’re waiting for the crowning selling point – Apple Intelligence – there is a caveat.

    Apple Intelligence is expected to arrive in its fullest only on the iPhone 16 models, and 15 Pro models, only in the US (at first), and only when iOS 18.1 comes around sometime in October.

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  • AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid device

    AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid device

    Not to be outdone by the new AirPods 4 with ANC, Apple decided to upgrade the AirPods Pro as well, so that it can set them apart from the cheaper standard AirPods in an easier manner. What was Apple to add that the AirPods Pro didn’t already have?

    Well, register the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid device with the FCC, of course! That’s right, the AirPods Pro will be approved as a hearing aid by the FCC this fall, and Apple will send a software update to unlock the feature.< Leveraging the power of AI, Apple will set apart noises from speech, emphasizing what you'd want to absorb if you are hard of hearing. Apple will soon push an update announcing a hearing test availability for the AirPods Pro, after which they will be able to take over as a personalized over-the-counter hearing aid for up to moderate hearing loss. The certified hearing test coming to iOS 18 and AirPods Pro 2 will take about 5 minutes and involve hearing a system of tones with different frequencies to determine your hearing loss scale slot. As usual, Apple has developed the AirPods Pro hearing aid feature with the help of clinical studies that examine a massive amount of real-world data, like it did when it introduced the ECG function on the Apple Watch, so it will probably work even better than advertised, negating the discomfort of carrying two types of hearing devices with you.

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  • Taiwan denies taking its chip manufacturing industry from the U.S.

    Taiwan denies taking its chip manufacturing industry from the U.S.

    The world’s largest foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd., is better known by the acronym TSMC. Its largest customer is Apple as the foundry produces the tech giant’s A-series and M-series processors among other chips. It also does work for Qualcomm and MediaTek and many other fabless chip designers. While countries like the U.S. and China would love to become self-sufficient in this industry, the former might not be able to accomplish this due to the costs required to build a fab in the states. The latter has had sanctions placed on it by the former that prevent it from obtaining self-sufficiency in this space.

    Taiwan’s economy minister Kuo Jyh-huei felt the need to make a statement today in Taipei denying comments made last month by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The comment by Trump, who was quoted in the July 16th edition of Bloomberg Business Week, said, “Taiwan took our chip business from us. I mean, how stupid are we? They took all of our chip business. They’re immensely wealthy.”

    “Of course Taiwan is not stealing the chip industry from the US. The chips we made are commissioned by U.S. companies, which still have the highest gross margin. Trump might have some misunderstanding on such matters, and we will clarify that.” Kuo Jyh-huei, Taiwan’s economy minister

    Minister Kuo chalked up the issue to a misunderstanding on Trump’s part which he said will be clarified. When the Republican candidate’s comments were published in July, officials in Taiwan were concerned that if Trump were to regain the presidency, he might not be as committed to defending Taiwan from an attack by China. Beijing says that there is only one China and it isn’t Taiwan. A successful attack on Taiwan would also bring TSMC into that country’s fold.

    Because Taiwan officials fear that Trump bases his actions on transactional relationships, they are concerned that under a second Trump administration, the U.S. will back off pledges made by President Joe Biden to help defend Taiwan from China unless Taiwan pays the U.S. for protection. Trump has actually floated the idea of Taiwan paying the U.S. for protection from China, a suggestion that led Taiwain Premier Cho Jung-tai to say back in July, “It’s our shared responsibility and goal to maintain the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.”

    It should be noted that under the Trump administration, TSMC agreed to build multiple fabs in Arizona. The first one was supposed to start operating this year but a lack of skilled U.S. workers has pushed back the plant’s opening to 2025. That fab will turn out chips using the foundry’s 4nm (N4) process node. TSMC is expected to build a total of three fabs in Arizona.>

    The second fab is expected to open in 2028 and will produce cutting edge 3nm and 2nm chips. The third factory will be ready at the end of the decade and is expected to churn out 2nm or more cutting-edge chips. When completed, the fabs will be the most technologically advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the U.S.

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  • Apple Intelligence could be used to make the Journal app more useful

    Apple Intelligence could be used to make the Journal app more useful

    Apple’s Journal app was launched with iOS 17.2. It’s a basic app that serves as a journal and helps you record your day. A new patent indicates that the Journal app may become more sophisticated in the future with the help of Apple Intelligence (Apple’s take on generative AI).

    The patent is filed with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) and reveals planned improvements for the Journal app. The patent illustrations hint at a possible deep integration with Apple Intelligence so you get some fancy smart suggestions.

    You already get some basic suggestions for memories based on photos, music, and places you’ve visited, as well as people you’ve messaged. But as noted by The Mac Observer, Apple Intelligence may take these suggestions to the next level.

    For example, the app would ask you to more proactively record in the Journal app when you finish a workout or if you take multiple photos in the same location. Also, the app may integrate usefully with calendar events and reminders.

    There could also be a new timeline interface: you would be able to see events of the same day as if in a chat.

    So far, Apple hasn’t announced anything Apple Intelligence-related for the Journal app. But many AI features are only in preview right now and I reckon many more are being worked on.

    I’d love to have more suggestions for the Journal app and using Apple Intelligence for it can elevate it. However, I do agree with 9to5Mac and believe that Apple should first bring the app to the iPad and Mac before it thinks of how to make it more attractive.

    Also, the patent doesn’t reveal a lot about the features that Apple Intelligence could bring to the app. I hope it will be more than a couple more suggestions to write.