Apple TV+ Announces Fall Premiers for Several Shows for Kids

“Circuit Breakers” premiers Friday 11 November on Apple TV+

30 AUGUST 2022 - Back-to-school time means back in front of the television, it seems. Apple TV+ released an absolutely daunting list of new shows for young ones between now and year’s end. They include yet another round of previously released Peanuts specials - eight titles in there (none of whihc I remember), the first season of the previously announced series “Sago Mini Friends,” the second season of “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” the second season of “Get Rolling with Otis,” the second season of “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” the third season of “Ghostwriter,” and three more new series - “Slumberkins,” “Circuit Breakers,” and “Interrupting Chicken.”

Most of them look annoyingly cute, though being a sci-fi guy, “Circuit Breakers” piques my interest. According to its description:

“Circuit Breakers” is a half-hour futuristic anthology series that tackles kid-relatable issues through a sci-fi lens. But not everything is as it seems, and their curiosity leads to chaos.

That one premiers on 11 November. Overall, you’re looking four premiers in September, two in October, and three in November. You can check out descriptions and exact premier dates here.

“Far Out” Event Could Take Apple Communications Off-Planet

29 AUGUST 2022 - Your next iPhone could be a space phone. There are a couple of stories out there reenforcing the possibility that iPhone 14 and perhaps an upcoming Apple Watch will have satellite capability.

The Mac Observer ran a report late last week highlighting a new offering between T-Mobile and SpaceX. According to the piece, the “Uncarrier revealed it will bring direct satellite connectivity for voice, text messaging, and MMS to all phones on its network.” Referred to as “Coverage Above and Beyond,” T-Mobile’s press release on the plan points out that “well over half a million square miles of the U.S. in addition to vast stretches of ocean are untouched by cell signals … from ANY provider.” They are looking to make such dead zones a thing of the past. TMO says the idea is not streaming movies on top of old Smoky. Rather, it’s meant to “offer life-saving connectivity…”

Great for T-Mobile, but what about iPhone owners on other networks? For that, TMO points to a rumor from earlier this year that had Globalstar announcing the acquisition of 17 new satellites with the option to buy nine more. The piece says the satellites “were intended to provide ‘continuous satellite services’ for a ‘potential customer,’” which the piece sees as potentially Apple.

But there is “one more thing…” the invitation to next week’s “Far Out” media event. The invitation has a total space theme - putting Apple (in the form of its logo) literally among the stars.

Kicking that around, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman used part of Sunday’s Power On newsletter to fold together the T-Mobile/SpaceX news, the Globalstar speculation, and the “Far Out” invitation art to admit the possibility of some sort of satellite connectivity for both the next round of iPhones and the rumored Apple Watch Pro.

While it might be geared at emergency services to start, other services would likely make the scene at some point. Quoting Gurman:

The prospect of having an iPhone that can reach first responders without a cellular connection is only the beginning of what Apple is planning. Ultimately, users could have global internet access and be able to make regular phone calls over satellite links. The combination of speedy 5G networks and satellite service could one day turn the iPhone into the most powerful global communications device available.

That said, Gurman doesn’t seem ready to go all-in on any satellite announcement this week. Quoting his post again:

It’s not clear if Apple will indeed launch this kind of functionality on Sept. 7 or if the features are more far out (sorry). But GlobalStar Inc., the long-rumored partner for Apple’s satellite push, has spent much of this year laying the groundwork for a major new initiative.

Bloomberg: Apple Applies for Series of “Reality” Trademarks

29 AUGUST 2022 - New iPhones… new Apple Watches… signals from your personal tech bouncing through space… and yet, the story that most revs my motor is one tied to some trademark filings. Bloomberg ran a report Sunday afternoon saying that Apple/not-Apple had applied for registered use of the terms “Reality One,” “Reality Pro,” and “Reality Processors” in a number of countries. The terms are thought to be tied to Apple’s mixed reality headset, expected to hit sometime in 2023. “Though Apple itself didn’t make the filings,” the piece says the applications in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the EU, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, the UK, and the US:

…follow a pattern that the iPhone maker has used in the past—including relying on law firms that the company has previously enlisted to lock down brands.

Unless I missed it, the Bloomberg piece doesn’t say anything tying the “Reality” applications to next week’s “Far Out” media event. While my head tells me the two stories have nothing to do with each other, my heart wants them to be linked ver, very much.

Apple Retail Holds First Company-Wide Meeting Since 2019

29 AUGUST 2022 - It was a meeting slated for the corner of “we’re all getting better, maybe” and “because I said so.” MacRumors ran a piece Friday saying that Apple was holding a company-wide retail meeting over the weekend. That did happen, according to an Apple Store friend of mine.

While I’ve not heard about the topic of the meeting, it seems significant for a couple of reasons. First - historically, MacRumors says they’re the kind of meeting Apple holds “ahead of a busy launch season.” With Apple’s “Far Out” product event drawing closer, now seems like a great time for such a meeting. The second reason the meeting is significant though - they haven’t happened in years. The piece says the last one was scheduled for Spring 2020. That was cancelled when the world caught COVID-19.

As for that corner I mentioned - the corner of “we’re all getting better, maybe” and “because I said so…” Despite COVID still being a thing, the world (or at least the U.S.) has pretty much re-opened for business. At the same time, MacRumors says the weekend’s meetings “come amid widespread tension within Apple over unionization, a factor not present in years past.”

I don’t want to guess about what was discussed, and I didn’t want to push my pal. That said, if anyone who made one of the meetings would like to share what they heard, I’m all ears - info@macosken.com.

Ming-Chi Kuo: 3nm Machines Unlikely from Apple This Year

29 AUGUST 2022 - TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is doubling down on his “no 3nm MacBooks this year” insistence. At the same time, he seems to be making peace with talk of 3nm processors from TSMC before year’s end.

A couple of weeks ago, Commercial Times out of Taiwan ran a report, saying that TSMC would/will start producing 3nm processors by the end of this year. With Apple lined up as a priority customer, the Commercial Times piece put MacBook models with the new processors in the hands of consumers by the end of this year.

Cue Ming-Chi Kuo, coming in to burst that bubble. In a post last week the analyst said:

New 14" and 16" MacBook Pro with new processors will enter mass production in 4Q22. Given TSMC's guidance that the 3nm will contribute revenue starting in 1H23, processors of 14" and 16" MacBook Pro models may still adopt the 5nm advanced node.

Now, the analyst has hit with a couple of Twitter posts (1, 2) explaining his thinking. Boiling those down, he seems to believe (or at the very least accept the possibility) that TSMC will start 3nm production between now and the end of the year. However, ramping that will take four-months, in his estimation. The way he sees it, “it would take until Jan 2023 to ship [3nm processors] at the earliest,” and that’s too late for the next round of Apple hardware. The analyst thinks new MacBook Pro units and new iPad Pro models “will enter mass production in 4Q22.” With 3nm processors shipping early next year (not late this year), the analyst thinks the new machine will adopt new processors, but he believes they are “unlikely” to be 3nm processors.

Report: DoJ Mulls Apple Anti-Trust Case Prompted by Tile Complaints

29 AUGUST 2022 - The US Department of Justice is apparently weighing a new anti-trust case against Apple. The Mac Observer cites a Politico report. That says DoJ lawyers are circling a case prompted by complaints from device tracker Tile. According to Politico:

Tile has been public about its complaints, testifying in congressional hearings that Apple has made it more difficult for the company’s devices to access needed location data, and restricted access to key hardware components in its phones.

And?

“Sound and fury,” says one analyst, “signifying nothing.” Actually that was Shakespeare, but you get the idea. Apple 3.0 ran part of a response to the Politico piece from Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani. According to the analyst, the case the DoJ is building was initially focused on Apple’s App Store. He sees a shift to AirTag and location tracking as good news for Apple, “as any changes to the Apple AirTags would be relatively immaterial to the bottom line.” Focus shifting back to the App Store could be a big deal. That would have Apple’s App Store payment requirements at its center. Such a shift would be significant, since it could affect or eliminate the commissions Apple collects on subscriptions, sales, and in-app purchases. Even there though, the risks seems more “public relations” than “operations.” Quoting Daryanani’s note:

We think Apple is well positioned to win any potential lawsuit related to the App Store, but announcement of the case is certainly a headline risk. We continue to view Apple as the least at risk among big tech.

Daryanani has an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $185.

Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of macOS Ventura to Public Testing Program

29 AUGUST 2022 - The big bam beta boom continues. Late last week, Apple made the sixth beta of macOS 13 Ventura available to developers. Now, a piece from MacRumors says the company did something similar for public testers. Even later last week, the Cupertino-crew seeded the fourth beta of the upcoming macOS to the public testing program. If you’re in it, you know how to get it. If you’re not but wish you were, fun to be had and info to be found at beta.apple.com.

Business Insider: Apple Pursuing Twin Pushes Into Live Sports and Advertising

29 AUGUST 2022 - Signs of where Apple TV+ and its advertising push are headed. Apple 3.0 ran part of paywalled piece from Business Insider that says the heat is on Apple ad honcho Todd Teresi. According to the report:

Apple has been re-organizing its Services businesses, giving its ad chief Todd Teresi more responsibility and a goal of getting its $3.7 billion ad business (according to Omdia), into the double digits. Teresi started reporting directly to Eddy Cue, senior VP, Services at the end of last year — a sign the business has become more of a focus for Apple.

At the same time, the Cupertino-company is hiring large for its live sports side. The same Business Insider piece says:

Apple's Careers page lists more than 60 jobs with “sports” in the title or description, more than 50 of them posted since May. On LinkedIn, James DeLorenzo, the company's head of sports, video business, has shared listings to expand his team — one for a sports programming strategy lead, one for a coordinating producer for live sports…

Of course, sports is far from Teresi’s only room for expansion. Last week, the tech-web exploded with rumors that the Cupertino-company could add advertising to Apple Maps as early as 2023.

Rogers Adds Apple TV+ and Apple TV+ Adds and Award

29 AUGUST 2022 - More Apple TV+ for the Great White North. MacRumors says Canadian carrier Rogers has announced the addition of the Apple TV+ app to its Ignite TV and Ignite Streaming devices. Though they’ll not be buying new Apple hardware, the piece says Rogers customers who take advantage can get the first three-months of Apple TV+ for free, provided they’re new to the service.

And clear off space for another award for Apple TV+. Apple Insider says the Cupertino-streamer’s series “Pachinko” has won Best International Drama at the Edinburgh Television Festival.

Counterpoint: Apple Retains Global Top-Spot in Smartwatches

26 AUGUST 2022 - All of a sudden, Apple’s next China is the second-biggest smartwatch market in the world. That is the word from Counterpoint Research. According to the market tracker, the “global smartwatch market grew 13% YoY in Q2 2022 with Apple retaining the top spot.” Apple’s Watch’s global marketshare slipped the tiniest bit though, inching from 30.6% in the second quarter of 2021 to 29.3% last quarter.

As for Apple’s next China, Counterpoint says, “India became the second-largest smartwatch market,” though Apple Watch had next to nothing to do with that. Counterpoint Associate Director Sujeong Lim is quoted in the piece, saying:

During the quarter, 30% of models shipped in the Indian market sold for less than $50, and major local brands launched cost-effective models, lowering the entry barriers for consumers.

The piece says sales on the subcontinent were “driven by the strong growth of local brands such as Fire-Boltt and Noise.” In fact, their rise in India was enough to push the two brands into the global smartwatch top-eight, which you could just as easily call Apple Watch and the other seven. At the top of the list, Apple Watch held the aforementioned 29.3% share. In an assailable second place was Samsung with a 9.2% share. No other brand could muster 7%, by Counterpoint’s count.

Apple Seeds Sixth Beta of macOS Ventura to Developers

26 AUGUST 2022 - macOS Ventura’s been a bit of a straggler this week. Still, better late than never. After giving developers access to  the seventh betas of iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 earlier this week, along with the first beta of iPadOS 16.1, Apple has pulled the trigger on the upcoming Mac update. A piece from MacRumors says developers can now grab the sixth beta of macOS 13. Look for a release for the rest of us sometime this fall.

AppleCare+ Annual Plan Expands to Three More Countries

26 AUGUST 2022 - Another smallish expansion for Apple’s Services segment. Cult of Mac ran a piece earlier this week saying that the annual plan for AppleCare+ for Mac has expanded to three new countries. The plan, which covers all Macs, Apple’s Pro XDR display, and Apple’s Studio Display, can now be subscribed to and paid for annually in Australia, Canada, and Japan. They join the U.S. in having that option, along with the United States and the United States of America.

Yeah - it’s pretty much just been us to this point.

Running the math - well, whether it’s good or bad might depend how flush you are. Buying AppleCare+ for three-years will run buyers $269. Paying annually will run buyers $99.99 per-year - a loss of ~$30 after three years. But maybe you don’t plan to keep it that long. Or maybe the extra $269 on top of the cost of the machine’s a bit too steep. Stuff to consider.

The quickest way for more information, visit the Apple Store for your country or region and search the term AppleCare+.

Apple Starts Payout Process on $95M AppleCare Settlement

26 AUGUST 2022 - As an AppleCare+ offer expands, the Cupertino-company is paying to make an old AppleCare problem go away. A piece from 9 to 5 Mac says Apple is starting to pay out the $95 million it agreed to pay to settle a suit tied to the service. According to the report:

The class action suit targeted Apple’s policy to provide refurbished devices as replacements through AppleCare. Final approval for the $95 million settlement was granted in April, and now eligible Apple users are being notified of their payments.

AppleCare terms of service said that replacement devices (should replacements be warranted) would either be “new or equivalent to new in performance and reliability.” Apparently they weren’t “equivalent to new” enough to some. They sued, and Apple settled. According to 9 to 5 Mac:

Payments will be sent to anyone who purchased AppleCare or AppleCare+ for iPhone or iPad after July 20, 2012, and received a refurbished device as a replacement. Those people will automatically receive a payment and there is no claim form that needs to be submitted.

But you do have to claim the payment, apparently. Pre-notice notices are being sent out now. They say, in part:

As Settlement Administrator for the matter, we’re sending you this courtesy email to inform you that by August 30, 2022, you will receive a payment notification email that contains a link to claim your payment electronically. Once you receive that email, you will have until November 28, 2022 to claim your payment.

Of the $95 million, the piece says between $63 million and $68 million will go to affected customers. The rest will go to the law firm Hagans Berman.

Not kidding.

Apple Highlights Second Impact Accelerator Class

Sixteen Black-, Hispanic/Latinx-, and Indigenous-owned green technology and clean energy businesses are joining Apple’s second Impact Accelerator, part of the company’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.

26 AUGUST 2022 - Apple’s second Impact Accelerator class is underway. The Cupertino-company issued a press release this week, introducing the world to the companies in the class and their respective missions. Part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, Apple’s press release on round two says the class is:

… a cohort of 16 Black-, Hispanic/Latinx-, and Indigenous-owned businesses working on the cutting edge of environmental services and solutions.

They include a company focused on water stewardship out of Atlanta, GA, an eWaste recycling firm from Morgan Hill, CA, an energy efficiency company from Camden, NJ, a carbon removal company from Juneau, AK, and many, many more.

Participants are in for “a three-month program aimed at accelerating progress toward their goals.” According to the release:

Executives and their teams will receive customized training that provides the knowledge and tools needed to succeed as an Apple supplier, access to Apple mentors and experts to help align business priorities with environmental goals, and scholarship opportunities with leading executive education programs focused on supply chain and growth.

Plus, they’ll be considered for business with Apple once they’re done learning how to do business with Apple.

Addressing the new crew, Apple VP of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, was quoted as saying:

The fight to address climate change demands that we band together to develop innovative solutions while empowering and uplifting the communities we’re working to protect… We are thrilled for this dynamic group of innovators to take their important work to the next level with help from our Impact Accelerator, and we are proud to deepen our commitment to working with partners around the country to ensure that environmental progress and equity go hand in hand.

Plans for an Apple Flavored Weekend

26 AUGUST 2022 - If you’re looking to fill the next 48 hours or so, Apple’s got stuff to get you active, keep you sedentary, and work your reading muscles. What? How do you read?

On the activity front, the National Parks focused Apple Watch activity challenge is tomorrow - Saturday 27 August. Record a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of one mile (1.6km) or more with any app that adds workouts to Health, and you will get a virtual medallion and stickers to stick in Apple apps like iMessage and FaceTime.

On the sedentary side, the first episode of the final season of “See” is out. The dark comedy “Bad Sisters” is also rolling along, as is the based-on-actual-events drama “Five Days at Memorial.” And Friday on Apple TV means baseball… this year. Tampa Bay at Boston for Game 1, with Cleveland at Seattle for Game 2 - anyplace with an Apple TV app, an internet connection, and power.

And finally this Friday - if you’re in more of a reading mood, Tim Cook has been moonlighting. Apple’s CEO has taken a turn as guest editor for the September/October 2022 edition of Popular Mechanics. Editing has its privileges. Not only did he get to write a rousing intro on “Responsible Innovation,” he also had a sit-down interview with PM’s Ryan D’Agostino. Topics covered include innovation at Apple, user privacy, Apple’s role as a global citizen, Apple’s emphasis on health, and more. The issue is available now through Apple News+. I assume it’s on newsstands as well, and I intend to find out this weekend.

I know. That’s ridiculous. I have access on my phone, computer, and iPad. There’s just something about the occasional dead tree edition.

Apple Announces In-Person “Far Out” Event for 7 September

25 AUGUST 2022 - What a surprise Wednesday morning to learn that Apple had sent media announcements for an event then two-weeks hence. How much forward planning do people have to do to watch a video? Funny story - it’s not just a video this time.

As had been rumored, Apple is holding its next product event on Wednesday 7 September - and at least some of it will be live. Or - at least some of it will be spent watching with people. Physically. At Apple Park. TechCrunch ran a piece Wednesday morning saying that the event will once again grace Apple Park’s Steve Jobs Theater.

So they’re just throwing caution to the wind, are they? Not completely. Jason Snell at Six Colors got one of the coveted golden tickets. He says:

It appears that just as at WWDC, a negative COVID test before the event will be required. But unlike WWDC, it seems that masks are optional at this event.

Snell guesses that most of the event will be pre-recorded, not that the trip will be wasted. Members of the media will likely be invited to a hands-on demo area after, in his estimation.

Hint Hunting the Galaxy

Little in the way of hints in the invitation. With the tagline “Far Out,” the art is out there. Reminiscent of recent images from the James Webb Space Telescope, Apple’s image looks less like a star-field than a field of galaxies. Of course, those galaxies form the outline of the Apple logo. The TechCrunch piece I mentioned earlier pokes fun at the hint-finding habit. “A galaxy of products?” they wonder. “Space-themed AR? The long-awaited debut of the Apple Galaxy S23+ (sorry)?”

What Are We Looking For?

AR anything feels like an outside chance - except for the invitation’s usual augmented reality extra. We’ll hit that in a moment. As for what’s very much expected, a piece from The Mac Observer runs through a few probabilities. The dead certs, as our British friends might say, include iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8. Digging deeper on the phone, four models are taken as read: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Most expect a teeny-tiny hole where iPhone mini used to be. We’ll see. On the Watch watch, in addition to the run-of-the-mill chronometer, there’s been talk of an Apple Watch Pro. Maybe a bigger display. Maybe a bit more rough-and-tumble. We just don’t know. Yet.

There has been talk of Apple re-introducing a bigger HomePod. I’ve neither seen nor heard anyone mention that around the “Far Out” event - but it’s early and there’s time.

Of course, TMO does expect release dates and maybe more of a demo for iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 at the event. If things go the way they have in the past, Apple will tease those that Wednesday, with releases sometimes between the Monday 12 September and Wednesday 14 September.

There’s also the car and AR. I’m kidding. Probably. Definitely kidding about the car. Sadly, probably kidding about AR. Apple did do their (now) usual AR doodad though. If you go to Apple’s Events page on your iPhone or iPad and tap the galactic Apple logo, you’ll end up with a sort of hole in the fabric of space with stars and a star-defined Apple logo floating in front of whatever you’re standing in front of. You will have to have the camera uncovered, of course. Otherwise, no technology practically indistinguishable from magic.

How to Watch What Happens Far Out

While a relatively small number of people will be “far out” in person, that is far from the only way to see it. Folks will be able to watch the event on Apple’s Events page. It will also be streamable on YouTube. No guessing on that. A piece from MacRumors says the Cupertino-company has already put up a placeholder on the streaming video site. MacRumors also expects the event to be streamed through the Apple TV app. Though I’ve not seen it said anywhere, it seems certain it will be on the actual Apple TV. And - of course - Apple should make it available as a podcast after the fact (audio and/or video), as tends to be its way.

If you’re looking to take it in live though, block out the time. The event is set to start at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern - anyplace there’s a screen and wifi.

Apple Releases Public Betas of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS

25 AUGUST 2022 - With their release likely under three weeks away, Apple on Wednesday let fly with the next round of software betas for public testers. Apple Insider says the Cupertino-company made the fifth public betas of iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 available to its public testing program.

Interestingly, they also got their first look at iPadOS 16.1, which I’d imagine looks a lot like the fourth public beta of iPadOS 16. No doubt you remember Apple deep-sixing the public release of iPadOS 16. The company issued a statement Tuesday saying in part:

As its own platform with features specifically designed for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This Fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update.

Not long now, my little Smurfs - iPadOS not included. If you’re in the public testing program, you know what to do. If you’re not and just can’t wait the three weeks, the cutting edge awaits at beta.apple.com.

Counterpoint: iPhone Grew Q2 Sales and Share in China in Slowing Smartphone Market

25 AUGUST 2022 - There’s another weird note on Apple and Samsung in the smartphone space. Counterpoint Research came out with some numbers Wednesday that kind of hurt my head. That’s partly because of the way they divide things up and partly because… math.

As we’ve heard before, smartphone sales in China were down in the second-quarter of 2022 versus the same quarter a year earlier. Sales of premium phones were also down, though not as much. The top end was down 10% versus the overall smartphone market’s decline of 14%. That disparity actually allowed the premium segment to grow in terms of marketshare, even though sales were lower. For the second quarter, premium phones accounted for 33% of the market, versus 31% for the same quarter a year earlier. But! There’s premium, and then there’s premium. Then there’s another one. Or two. By Counterpoint’s reckoning it goes “affordable premium,” then “premium,” then “ultra premium,” which they proceed to divide into two more categories, like they were making movies about Hobbits or student wizards or something.

While premium phone sales were down, that’s only true of the biggest segment - affordable premium. That’s defined by Counterpoint as phones ranging from $400 - $599. And so, you begin to see how Apple was able to grow sales in China in a big way in the premium space, even while the premium space sank. Counterpoint Research Analyst Mengmeng Zhang is quoted in the release, saying:

Apple did well in the $1,000 and above segment, recording 147% YoY increase, while Samsung also grew 133% YoY. Both these brands benefitted from Huawei’s decline and the shift in purchase trends towards premium phones in China.

Right! Samsung! Taking a look at the top premium smartphone vendors in China, Samsung - is not there, why do we keep talking about them?

Running down the top six premium smartphone sellers for China for the second quarter:

• Apple was tops with a 46% share, up from 43% from the same quarter a year earlier

• Vivo was second with 13%, up from last year’s 6%

• Huawei was third with 11%, down from last years 19%

• Honor was fourth with a 9% share, up from the prior year’s 6%

• Xiaomi was fifth with 8%, down from last year’s 9%

• oppo was sixth with 8%, down from last year’s 13%

That leaves Samsung lumped into the “Others” category, the whole of which made up 4% of Q2 premium phone sales - why do we keep talking about them?

Counterpoint: Third-Place iPhone Grows Q2 Sales and Share in Vietnam

25 AUGUST 2022 - Busy day for Counterpoint Research Wednesday. In addition to second quarter numbers on China, a piece from Apple Insider said the firm also let loose with second quarter smartphone numbers for Vietnam.

First place Samsung doing very well there, by the way. It was one of only three of the top-five vendors to show growth - moving from a marketshare of ~31% in the second quarter of last year to ~38-and-a-half last quarter. Second place oppo grew from ~14.5% to just under 21%. Third place Apple grew from ~10.5% to ~15.5%. And everyone else shrank - as did the Vietnamese smartphone market as a whole. Not by much though. Roughly one-percent.

Apple Insider credits two-factors for iPhone’s growth. Like China, Vietnam is seeing a shift to higher-end smartphones. The other factor - the piece says Apple “is improving its own retail presence, and boosting official distributors.”

Match Group Sues Apple in India Over In-App Purchase Commissions

25 AUGUST 2022 - Like a bad penny… like a bad date that just won’t end… news of another lawsuit against Apple by Tinder owner Match Group. 9 to 5 Mac says the dating app juggernaut has filed suit against Apple in India, accusing the Cupertino-company of “monopolist conduct” by charging commission for in-app purchases. Citing a Reuters report, the piece has Match Group arguing that:

Apple’s conduct restricts innovation and development of app developers that offer digital services by enforcing the use of its proprietary in-app purchase system and ‘excessive’ 30% commission…

The suit itself says:

Apple is therefore leveraging its dominant position in the iOS App Store market, to promote the exclusive use of its own payment solution…

Man that story makes me want to swipe… left? Is it? I don’t know. Which one makes it go away? That’s the one I’m looking for.