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Apple Urges London Court to Block $2 Billion Class Action Lawsuit Over Battery Issues in iPhones

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Apple has been facing a $2 billion class-action lawsuit in London that accuses the company of using substandard batteries, intentionally slowing down older iPhones, and draining batteries faster through an update to the iOS software platform. The legal action was brought by Justin Gutmann, the head of consumer advocacy, on behalf of iPhone users in the UK.

Apple has refuted the claims and referred to the complaint as “baseless.” Except for a few iPhone 6s devices, which received free battery replacements, the business asserts that its iPhone batteries were not damaged. Apple also argues that the power management update introduced in 2017 only slowed the performance of the iPhone 6 by an average of 10%.

Gutmann’s lawyers allege that Apple hid battery problems in some phone models and secretly installed a power management tool that limited smartphone performance. They cited Apple’s 2020 US class action settlement agreements and US state regulatory lawsuits over iPhone battery issues as evidence that Apple did not claim there were no such problems. In 2019, Apple pledged to be “more open” with iPhone users about battery health before the UK regulator.

The case is ongoing, and Gutmann has asked the London Competition Court of Appeal to certify it and take it to court. Apple is asking the court to block the lawsuit, arguing that not all batteries can provide the peak power required under all circumstances and at all times, which is the case for all battery-powered devices.

Apple agreed to pay $500 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement in the United States in 2020 after the corporation was accused of slowing down older iPhone models. The settlement required Apple to pay between $25 to $500 to affected iPhone owners. Apple also promised to be more transparent about iPhone battery health and performance.

The outcome of the London lawsuit is unknown, but it shows the continuous conflict between customers and technology companies over product performance and transparency. Companies must be upfront about their products’ performance and any possible risks as consumers become more reliant on technology.

Apple’s New High-Yield Savings Account Attracts $1 Billion in Just Four Days

Apple High-Yield Savings Account

Apple’s foray into the financial industry has been a big success, with the tech giant’s new high-yield savings account attracting nearly $1 billion in just four days, according to anonymous sources cited by Forbes. The Apple Card Savings Account, which is operated by Goldman Sachs, offers an annual percentage yield (APY) of 4.15% to Apple Cardholders in the United States.

Despite not being the highest-yielding savings account on the market, the convenience of the account, which is only available to Apple Card users, seems to have contributed to its popularity. Within the first week of availability, approximately 240,000 accounts were created.

While Apple and Goldman Sachs have not disclosed the actual number of accounts created, the initial success is remarkable given the current economic climate, where banks are struggling and competing to retain deposits.

The partnership between Apple and Goldman Sachs, which began in 2019, has seen the two companies launch a credit card, personal loans, and now a savings account. With the Apple Card Savings Account’s initial success, it will be interesting to see how the partnership develops and what other financial products the companies may offer in the future.

Researchers Develop World’s First Wooden Electric Transistor for Sustainable Technology

Worlds First Wooden Electric Transistor

Researchers at Linköping University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed the world’s first wooden electric transistor. This breakthrough could revolutionize the electronics industry in terms of efficiency and sustainability. 

Although wooden transistors have been attempted before, previous experiments could only modulate the transport of ions. The new transistors can function continuously and regulate the flow of electricity without degradation.

The researchers achieved this by using balsa wood with a uniform structure throughout, where they removed the lignin, leaving only long cellulose fibres with grooves. They then filled the grooves with a conductive plastic called PEDOT: PSS, creating a conductive wood. The resulting transistor regulates current and functions continuously at a selected output level.

The new wooden transistor takes about 1 second to switch off and 5 seconds to switch on. Although the channel of the final transistor is large, the researchers say this is an advantage, as it can withstand higher currents than ordinary organic transistors, which could be important in certain future applications.

This breakthrough offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional transistor materials. Wood is a renewable resource, and this development could lead to a new wave of sustainable electronics. The research could also lead to further advances in the field of organic electronics.

This development could also significantly impact the electronics industry, which is known for generating a large amount of electronic waste. The traditional materials used in electronics, such as metals and plastics, are non-renewable and non-biodegradable. Using wooden transistors could reduce the environmental impact of the electronics industry.

Microsoft Prepares to Develop its own Arm Chip to Compete with Apple Silicon MacBook

Microsoft company news and stories

Microsoft is taking a cue from Apple by working on its own custom silicon and preparing for Windows 12 optimized for Arm chips. 

In recent years, Microsoft has been trying to replicate Apple’s success by developing its own PC lineup called the “Surface” series. However, one of the defining elements of today’s Macs is Apple Silicon SoCs, which Microsoft is now also working on.

According to Windows Latest, Microsoft has posted job listings on its website for key positions related to chip manufacturing. This includes hiring a Principal SoC Silicon Architect responsible for building complex, state-of-the-art SOCs using key silicon technology nodes. Another job listing was for a Senior Silicon Power Integrity CAD Manager. The postings appear to have been part of the “Microsoft Silicon Team,” a group of engineers who develop silicon components internally.

Microsoft’s Windows 12 is part of the Windows Core project, which is expected to create a modular version of Windows that works across multiple form factors. Hiring engineers specializing in Arm chips shows a more aggressive stance to make Windows 12 run as well as possible on Arm chips, further strengthening Microsoft’s prospects of using its own silicon.

One of the benefits of using an in-house Arm chip is the ability to support various AI functions, which can be promoted from the hardware side as well. Microsoft’s silicon team has already worked on Azure, Xbox, Surface, and HoloLens designs, and they could also work on Arm-based processors if Microsoft chooses a chip of its own design.

In recent years, Apple has made significant strides by offering performance that set it apart from previous Intel chips and Windows notebook PCs in terms of power and especially efficiency. By developing its own custom silicon and preparing for Windows 12 optimized for Arm chips, Microsoft is hoping to catch up with Apple’s success.

In conclusion, Microsoft’s move towards creating its own custom silicon and preparing for Windows 12 optimized for Arm chips is an aggressive step towards replicating Apple’s success. With the hiring of key personnel and the development of the Windows Core project, Microsoft is hoping to create a modular version of Windows that works across multiple form factors while also supporting various AI functions. Only time will tell if Microsoft can catch up with Apple, but these recent moves show they are trying.

Apple Rolls Out Rapid Security Patches for iOS and macOS

iOS 16 in iphone

Apple has released its first batch of publicly available “rapid security” patches to address important security vulnerabilities that pose a significant risk to customers. 

The update, designed for devices running iOS 16.4.1iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1, is intended to allow users to update their devices faster than regular software updates, making it easier to protect their devices from security threats. This feature, known as “Rapid Security Response, ” is intended to deliver important security improvements between software updates.

While the quick response patch has been touted as a great feature by Apple, the implementation of the patches has not been without its issues. Some customers have reported that they could not install the update immediately, despite the fast download speed. Many received the message “Unable to authenticate the Rapid Security Response. The device is no longer connected to the internet.”

It is not yet clear which specific vulnerabilities will be fixed by this security update, but Apple has promised to provide the highest level of security for its customers. While this is an important step in protecting Apple devices, new exploits have recently been discovered that exploit previously undisclosed vulnerabilities in Apple software means that there is still a rapidly growing data security threat.

It is important to note that Apple continues to work on providing the highest level of security for its customers to keep them safe from these threats. This should include regular software updates and the quick delivery of patches, like the Rapid Security Response updates. The tech giant must ensure that its customers have access to reliable and accurate security updates and that any issues with implementing the updates are resolved quickly. 

Microsoft Edge Loses Ground to Safari in Desktop Browser Market

Microsoft Edge browser popularity

Microsoft Edge has lost its second-place position in the market to Safari. According to the latest report from Statcounter, Safari now holds an 11.87% market share, up by 0.95 percentage points compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, Microsoft Edge’s market share declined by 0.15 percentage points, causing it to fall to third place. Google Chrome remained the market leader, with a market share of 66.13%, up by 0.36 percentage points.

It should be noted that while the figures from Statcounter and other platforms are not entirely accurate, they provide a general overview of the state of the market. The shift in market share suggests that Safari is becoming a more popular choice among desktop browser users, potentially due to its integration with Apple products.

In the mobile browser market, Chrome and Safari continue to dominate, with a combined market share of nearly 90%. The remaining players, including Samsung Internet, Opera, and UC Browser, accounted for less than 10% of the market share.

Microsoft has been actively introducing new features to Edge, but the browser has struggled to break the 11% mark for almost a year. To compete with Google, Microsoft recently launched a beta version of Edge that displays ads for Bing’s AI bot on Google search pages. However, whether this move will pay off or simply annoy users is unclear.

Despite the fluctuations in market share, the competition between major browser developers remains intense. Each company strives to innovate and improve their product to attract more users and maintain its position in the market. As a result, users can expect continued updates and new features in their favourite browsers in the future.

Microsoft’s Bing AI to be Automatically Integrated into Samsung Galaxy Devices

Bing Chatbot SwiftKey

Microsoft’s Bing AI is now automatically available on almost every modern Samsung Galaxy device. The OpenAI-based search tool is integrated into the SwiftKey keyboard, which is part of Samsung’s One UI Android launcher. 

Users who have installed the SwiftKey keyboard on their Samsung Galaxy devices can use Bing AI without any additional setup. Microsoft announced the update on Twitter, revealing that version 9.10.11.10 of SwiftKey will roll out to Samsung users over the next few days. The Bing AI feature has been available on SwiftKey since mid-April, including on the iOS version.

However, not all Samsung Galaxy users may want Bing AI integrated into their keyboard. They can use the default Samsung Keyboard instead by toggling keyboards on their device’s settings to avoid it. However, this may not be the last time Galaxy users see Bing AI. Samsung is reportedly considering shifting from its $3 billion deal with Google to make Bing its new search default.

It is worth noting that integrating Bing AI into SwiftKey is part of Microsoft’s strategy to expand its search and AI capabilities to a wider audience. In addition to its search engine, Bing, Microsoft is also investing heavily in AI-powered tools such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and natural language processing technology. The integration of Bing AI into SwiftKey is just one example of how Microsoft is trying to make its products and services more accessible to users on various platforms.