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Disney's Bob Iger Resigns From Apple's Board of Directors

Friday September 13, 2019 2:39 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Disney chief executive and chairman Bob Iger has resigned from Apple's board of directors as Apple and Disney prepare to launch competing streaming services, Apple announced today in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Iger resigned on September 10, the same day that Apple shared additional information on Apple TV+, which will cost $4.99 per month and will be launching November 1.

Image via Bloomberg
With the launches of both the Disney+ streaming service and Apple TV+ looming, there was speculation that Iger was at risk of losing his seat on Apple's board as Disney+ will be a major Apple TV+ competitor.

Both services will offer original streaming television shows and movies, with Disney+ priced at $6.99 per month and also set to launch in November.

Iger in April said that he didn't believe his role on Apple's board was problematic and that at the time, he was leaving board meetings whenever streaming services came up. He said he had to leave infrequently because TV was a "very small business" to Apple comparative to other areas like hardware, but with Apple TV+ set to launch soon, his position has changed.

Bob Iger first joined Apple's board of directors back in 2011, one month after the death of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

In a statement shared by The New York Times, Iger called Apple one of the world's most admired companies.

"I have the utmost respect for Tim Cook, his team at Apple and for my fellow board members. Apple is one of the world's most admired companies, known for the quality and integrity of its products and its people, and I am forever grateful to have served as a member of the company's board."

Apple in turn called Iger an "exemplary" board member and a trusted business partner.

"More than anything, Bob is our friend. He leads with his heart, and he has always been generous with his time and advice. While we will greatly miss his contributions as a board member, we respect his decision, and we have every expectation that our relationship with both Bob and Disney will continue far into the future."

With Iger's departure, Apple's board of directors includes seven members, which makes it one of the smallest among the major tech companies. Other board members include Art Levinson, James Bell, Al Gore, Tim Cook, Andrea Jung, Ronald Sugar, and Susan Wagner.

Tags: Apple Board of Directors, Disney, Apple TV Guide

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Apple Disputes Goldman Sachs Analyst Report Claiming Free Year of Apple TV+ Will Impact Earnings

Friday September 13, 2019 11:22 am PDT by Juli Clover

Goldman Sachs this morning cut its target price for Apple's stock from $187 a share to $165 a share, claiming Apple's plans to give away free access to its upcoming Apple TV+ service will cause a "material negative impact" on earnings because of how the accounting for the service will work.

Goldman Sachs' Rod Hall said that Apple would account for the one-year free trial as a combined hardware and services bundle discount, which would show lower hardware profit margins.

"We believe that Apple plans to account for its 1-year trial for TV+ as a ~$60 discount to a combined hardware and services bundle," wrote Goldman analyst Rod Hall, in a note.

"Effectively, Apple's method of accounting moves revenue from hardware to Services even though customers do not perceive themselves to be paying for TV+. Though this might appear convenient for Apple's services revenue line it is equally inconvenient for both apparent hardware ASPs and margins in high sales quarters like the upcoming FQ1′20 to December," Hall added.

Apple in a statement to CNBC disputed Goldman Sachs' negative call and said that it does not expect the introduction of Apple TV+ to have an impact on its financial results.

"We do not expect the introduction of Apple TV+, including the accounting treatment for the service, to have a material impact on our financial results," the company said in a statement to CNBC.

Apple is planning to provide one free year of Apple TV+ access to all customers who purchase an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac, aka any device able to play the service's TV shows and movies.

For those who do not get Apple TV+ for free through a device purchase, Apple is charging $4.99 per month for the entire family. Apple TV+ is set to launch on Friday, November 1.

Tag: AAPL

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Apple Shares New iPhone 11 Pro Videos Highlighting Durability and Camera Capabilities [Updated]

Friday September 13, 2019 11:08 am PDT by Juli Clover

Following the launch of iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro pre-orders, Apple today shared two new videos highlighting iPhone 11 Pro features.

The first video features random objects, food, and water being hurled at the iPhone 11 Pro to demonstrate the device's increased durability.

Apple says its new iPhones are made from a tougher glass and both the 11 and 11 Pro have improved IP68 water resistance ratings.

The second video highlights the new triple-lens camera system with 12-megapixel wide, ultra wide, and telephoto lenses.

In the video, a dog enters a wind simulator and the iPhone's three cameras are used to demonstrate the different focal lengths and also Night Mode, which is designed to take bright, crisp photos even in very low lighting conditions.

Pricing on Apple's iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999, and the device is available for pre-order starting today. It will begin arriving in the hands of customers on Friday, September 20.

Update: Apple has shared a third video called "Cinematic Tests," demonstrating 4K video capture. The video was part of Tuesday's event.

Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro

Tag: Apple ads

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)

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Apple Watch Series 5 Titanium Models Weigh Up to 13% Less Than Stainless Steel Models

Friday September 13, 2019 10:05 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

When the Apple Watch Series 5 lineup was introduced earlier this week, tech specs on Apple's website listed incorrect weights for the new models based on Series 4 weights. Apple has since corrected the data, providing for an accurate comparison of the new titanium casing option with stainless steel.

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40mm and 44mm titanium Series 5 models weigh 35.1 and 41.7 grams respectively, according to Apple, which is up to 13 percent lighter than the 40mm and 44mm stainless steel Series 5 models at 40.6 and 47.8 grams respectively.

Meanwhile, 40mm and 44mm aluminum Series 5 models weigh 30.8 and 36.5 grams respectively, which is virtually the same as aluminum Series 4 models. And the 40mm and 44mm ceramic models weigh 39.7 and 46.7 grams respectively, making them slightly lighter than ceramic Series 3 models, despite having larger displays.

40mm

Aluminum: 30.8 grams
Stainless Steel: 40.6 grams
Titanium: 35.1 grams
Ceramic: 39.7 grams

44mm

Aluminum: 36.5 grams
Stainless Steel: 47.8 grams
Titanium: 41.7 grams
Ceramic: 46.7 grams

Apple Watch Series 5 pre-orders began earlier this week, with deliveries to customers and in-store availability starting Friday, September 20. Key features include an always-on display, a new Compass app, international emergency calling on cellular models, 32GB of storage, and the new casing options.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5, watchOS 6

Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

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J.J. Abrams Declined Apple's $500 Million Offer Because it Would Have Restricted Bad Robot Productions to Apple TV+

Friday September 13, 2019 8:53 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard

A new article by The Hollywood Reporter today sheds light on why director/producer J.J. Abrams declined a big deal with Apple, which would have seen his Bad Robot production company become one of the main creators for exclusive content on Apple TV+.

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According to sources, Abrams and his wife Katie McGrath wanted to be able to sell Bad Robot's content to other outlets. Of course, Apple wanted the company to exclusively produce shows and movies that would only be made available on Apple TV+ and nowhere else. Ultimately, Abrams decided to stick with WarnerMedia, which offered far less than Apple.

Sources familiar with the deal say it is less about money and more about the larger opportunities that come with an established media giant like WarnerMedia. Abrams is said to have wanted a set number of guaranteed slots on Warner Bros.' feature film release calendar, though it's unclear if that was included in the new agreement. With Warners, Abrams has the ability to create new features that could see his new deal reach the billions if he's able to create a successful franchise.

Now that Bad Robot remains under WarnerMedia, the company is able to create shows like "Lisey's Story" and sell it out to other brands, including Apple. Abrams hopes to turn Bad Robot into a "consumer brand" in this way and get its content in front of as many people as possible, which would have been more difficult if it were locked behind the Apple TV+ exclusivity barrier.

Apple's exclusivity deal (valued in the $500 million range), also would have restricted Abrams' ability to work on outside projects under the Bad Robot umbrella for other studios, like his work on Star Trek for Paramount. Additionally, Bad Robot was concerned about Apple's lack of a clear theatrical distribution model, which the company as of yet has not needed to dabble in.

There are a multitude of other reasons that appear to have ultimately convinced Abrams to remain at WarnerMedia. These include Apple's lack of IP for him to adapt, his alleged disappointment in Apple's March media event where it introduced Apple TV+, and a disagreement on the exact valuation of Bad Robot.

J.J. Abrams is still producing many shows on Apple TV+, including "Little Voice," "My Glory Was I Had Such Friends," and the adaptation of the Stephen King novel "Lisey's Story."

Tags: Apple's Hollywood ambitions, Apple TV Plus

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Samsung Ad Encourages iPhone Users to Switch to the Galaxy Note10 and 'Fall in Love' With Bokeh Video

Friday September 13, 2019 8:28 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

On the heels of Apple introducing the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro this week, Samsung has shared a new ad that calls on iPhone users to "switch to the Galaxy Note10" and "fall in love" with its bokeh video feature.

The 15-second ad shows a man and a woman standing side by side, holding an iPhone and Galaxy Note10 respectively, as they both record a couple's marriage proposal. However, unlike the iPhone, the Galaxy Note10 is able to blur the background of the video in real time for a bokeh effect.

Samsung then gets to the point: "Missing a little… je ne sais quoi? Switch to the Galaxy Note10. And fall in love with Live Focus Video."

While recent iPhones do have Portrait Mode for blurring the background of people, pets, and objects in photos, Apple does not offer a bokeh video feature in the stock Camera app. However, it is possible to achieve a somewhat shallower depth of field using third-party camera apps like FiLMiC Pro.

Samsung released the Galaxy Note10 on August 23, with pricing starting at $949 in the United States. iPhone 11 Pro models start at $999, with pre-orders beginning today ahead of in-store availability on Friday, September 20.

Tag: Samsung

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U.S. House Committee Asks Apple to Send Info About App Store Policies and More as Part of Antitrust Investigation

Friday September 13, 2019 7:33 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

As part of a bipartisan investigation of competition in digital markets, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee today sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook requesting that the company provide any documents and executive communications related to its various policies for the App Store, product repairs, and more.

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The investigation seeks any internal documents or communication involving Apple executives, such as emails, for the following topics:

Apple's decision to remove from the App Store or to impose any restrictions on certain parental control apps, including Freedom, Kidslox, Mobicip, OurPact, and Qustodio
Apple's App Store algorithm for determining rankings in search results
Apple's policy related to the App Store's in-app purchase mechanism and its revenue split
Apple's policy regarding whether apps are permitted to include in-app links to non-Apple payment systems
Apple's policy regarding whether users can set non-Apple apps as default, such as web browsers and music, maps, and email apps
Apple's policy regarding whether to allow any third-party app store beyond the App Store on the iPhone
Apple's decision to "sherlock" any functionality from third-party apps, including any discussions about Clue, Duet Display, and SwiftKey
Apple's policy regarding whether third-party web browsers must use a specific rendering engine, such as WebKit
Apple's restrictions on third-party repairs
Apple's decision to offer discounted iPhone battery replacements throughout 2018, or the actual or projected effects of this decision, including any effect on iPhone sales
Apple's decision to introduce the Independent Repair Provider Program
Apple's agreement to sell products on Amazon and corresponding move to limit unauthorized resellers on Amazon

The Committee has requested that Apple respond no later than October 14, 2019 and also sent similar letters to Facebook, Amazon, and Google.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: App Store, antitrust

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iPhone 11 Lineup Said to Include Two-Way Charging Hardware, But Software Disabled

Friday September 13, 2019 5:55 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max models include the necessary hardware for a two-way charging feature that was widely rumored for the devices, but Apple has disabled the feature on the software end, according to "reliable sources" cited by leaker and former Apple blogger Sonny Dickson.

Reliable sources are saying iPhone 11 and 11 Pro do include the hardware for bilateral charging, but that it is software disabled. Uncertain whether this was removed prior to final production run.
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) September 13, 2019

Dickson, through his connections, has proven reliable at times in the past. He had early line of sight on the AirPower's development challenges, for example, and the wireless charging mat was eventually canceled.

For months ahead of their unveiling, the latest iPhones were rumored to feature a Qi-based device-to-device charging feature, allowing for an Apple Watch, AirPods, and other accessories to charge on the back of the iPhones. The feature was expected to be similar to Wireless PowerShare on Samsung's Galaxy S10.

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The centered Apple logo on the iPhone 11 models was even believed to be partly intended to help customers know where to place their AirPods, Apple Watch, or other accessories to charge on the back of the iPhone.

Just hours before Apple's event this week, however, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the feature appeared to have been canceled. In a note seen by MacRumors, Kuo said the feature was possibly abandoned because "the charging efficiency may not meet Apple's requirements."

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Teardowns of the iPhone 11 models will soon confirm whether the two-way charging hardware is in fact present in the devices. Deliveries to customers and in-store availability will begin Friday, September 20.

(Thanks, Burak Polat!)

Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)

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Available Supply of iPhone 11 Pro Models Begins Waning

Friday September 13, 2019 5:25 am PDT by Juli Clover

Shortly after pre-orders for Apple's new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models went live, supplies of the new higher-end iPhone 11 Pro models began dwindling, with launch day shipping no longer available for many colors and capacities.

Most iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models in the midnight green color went first, suggesting it is the most popular color this year. At this time, most new Pro models in midnight green will ship in late September to early October.

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Space Gray, Silver, and Gold iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models are also selling out quickly with many colors and capacities across several carriers now unavailable for launch day delivery. Gold devices are still in stock along with a few Silver and Space Gray, but it looks like all available supply will soon be exhausted.

The iPhone 11 appears to be faring better and most models in most colors and capacities can still be purchased for launch day delivery.

Given how fast the iPhone 11 Pro is selling out, it's best to place an order as early as possible. Those who don't get launch day delivery may be able to visit an Apple Store or another retail location on launch day to get a new iPhone.

Update 6:15 a.m.: Shipping estimates for select models of the iPhone 11, led by the new green and purple colors for T-Mobile and Sprint customers, have started slipping beyond the September 20 launch date as well.

Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)

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iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max Now Available for Pre-Order

Friday September 13, 2019 5:00 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max models through its online storefront and the Apple Store app.

Priced at $699, the iPhone 11 is Apple's most affordable new iPhone this year. It features a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge LCD display, a colorful glass body that comes in one of six colors, improved water and shatter resistance, an A13 chip, and a new dual-lens camera system with a wide-angle and ultra wide-angle lens.

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The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro, which is priced at $999, features a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED display, a matte glass body, improved water and shatter resistance, an A13 chip, longer battery life, and a new triple-lens camera setup with telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra wide-angle lenses for some impressive photography improvements.

Apple's most expensive iPhone, the $1099 iPhone 11 Pro Max, is identical to the iPhone 11 Pro with the exception of its larger 6.5-inch display and bigger battery. Both the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max ship with an 18W USB-C power adapter and USB-C to Lightning cable for fast charging right out of the box, and they're available in a new green color.

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All three new iPhones feature Haptic Touch instead of 3D Touch, next-gen Smart HDR for the cameras, a new night mode that's designed to capture crisp, bright photos even in very low lighting conditions, Portrait mode improvements, and an upgraded 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera system.

Face ID is up to 30 percent faster and it works from more angles, and the front-facing camera features improved Smart HDR and support for 120 fps slo-mo video, enabling what Apple calls "slofies."

Pre-orders are available in the United States and more than 30 other countries and regions. We haven't heard rumors of supply constraints so available iPhone models should be plentiful, but it's always best to order early especially when it comes to the midnight green shade because it's a new, never-before-offered option.

All of the major U.S. carriers -- Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile -- are accepting pre-orders for the new devices, as are many other carriers around the world. Major online retailers including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, are also accepting pre-orders starting today.

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The iPhone 11 is priced at $699 for 64GB of storage, with 128GB of storage available for $749 and 256GB of storage available for $849. iPhone Upgrade Program pricing is available, as are trade-ins to lower prices.

The iPhone 11 Pro is priced at $999 for 64GB of storage, $1149 for 256GB of storage, and $1349 for 512GB of storage. The iPhone 11 Pro Max offers the same storage tiers at price points $100 higher than iPhone 11 pricing ($1099, $1249, and $1449).

In the United States, customers can purchase the new iPhones from any of the four major carriers using Apple's site, or choose a SIM-free version. Customers who successfully place an order for launch day delivery can expect to begin receiving their devices on Friday, September 20, the official release date for the new devices.

Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)

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Apple Fifth Avenue in New York and Apple Omotesando in Tokyo Reopen on iPhone 11 Launch Day

Friday September 13, 2019 4:49 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today announced that its Omotesando retail store in Tokyo reopens Friday, September 20 following renovations, as noted by Japanese blog Mac Otakara. Doors will open at 8 a.m. local time. September 20 is iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and Apple Watch Series 5 launch day.

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Likewise, Apple previously announced that its iconic Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan reopens September 20 at 8 a.m. local time.

"We're transforming our iconic store into a space that's open to collaboration of all kinds," reads Apple's new Fifth Avenue store preview page. "Made for the city where creativity never sleeps. Stop by during our weeklong celebration to get inspired by some of the best creative talent in the city."

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To celebrate the reopening of its Fifth Avenue flagship, Apple has temporarily covered the store's iconic glass cube in an eye-catching iridescent film. Below, the underground store has been significantly expanded in size, with circular skylights added at ground level to allow natural light into the store.

Update: Apple Antara in Mexico City will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27. It will be the company's second retail store in Mexico.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores

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Apple Store Down Ahead of iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Pre-Orders

Friday September 13, 2019 1:37 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple's online store is down in anticipation of iPhone 11 series pre-orders, which begin at the unusual time of 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time this year.

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Arguably favoring the east coast this time around, Apple's U.S. storefront placeholder currently reads: "Staying up late is so last year. The good news is, now you don't have to. This year, pre-order begins at 5:00 a.m. PDT. See you then."

Apple unveiled the iPhone 11 on September 10 with new colors, a dual-lens camera, improved durability, and a faster A13 chip than last year's iPhone XR, which it replaces.

The successors to the 2018 iPhone XS series are called iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, and feature triple-lens cameras, A13 chips, faster Face ID, Night Mode, shatter resistant glass, improved water resistance and more.

The iPhone 11 is priced at $699 for 64GB of storage, with 128GB of storage available for $749 and 256GB of storage available for $849. iPhone Upgrade Program pricing is available, as are trade-ins to lower prices.

The iPhone 11 Pro is priced at $999 for 64GB of storage, $1149 for 256GB of storage, and $1349 for 512GB of storage. The iPhone 11 Pro Max offers the same storage tiers at price points $100 higher than iPhone 11 pricing ($1099, $1249, and $1449).

Customers who successfully place an order for launch day delivery should receive their devices on Friday, September 20, which is the official release date for the new devices.

Looking further ahead, rumors suggest Apple is planning to release three 5G-capable iPhones in 2020, but in new sizes. Apple is said to be working on 5.4 and 6.7-inch high-end iPhones with OLED displays, which would presumably be the devices to adopt the rumored 3D-capable rear camera systems, and a lower-cost 6.1-inch model with an OLED display.

Are you getting a new iPhone this year or waiting for 2020? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)

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