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Tag: iPhones

  • Assorted Apple products exempt from Trump administration reciprocal tariffs

    Assorted Apple products exempt from Trump administration reciprocal tariffs

    Apple and other electronics manufacturers have received a break from the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs. Per a list shared by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency on Friday, iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, HomePods, AirPods, and other Apple devices will not be subject to the 125 percent tariffs that have been put in place on imported Chinese goods, nor will Apple have to pay the 10 percent reciprocal tariffs that are in place for goods from other countries.

    A number of other devices have been exerted, including components such as GPUs from Nvidia, semiconductors and the equipment used to make them, SSDs, displays, many TVs, and more. Some other electronic devices including video game consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 are still subject to the tariffs.

    According to Bloomberg, the exemptions themselves could be temporary, and the Trump administration could be planning for new, lower tariffs on electronics and other goods from China. The order does not exempt companies from the 20 percent “fentanyl” fee imposed on China, which was an earlier penalty, so there is still a fee that Apple will need to pay.

    All of this remains volatile as policies change daily given the current circumstances. Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and content.govdelivery.com

  • Apple boosts trade-in values for iPads

    Apple boosts trade-in values for iPads

    If you’re looking to trade an iPad in for something nifty this holiday season, the news just got a bit better.

    Apple on Friday increased trade-in values for iPad models in the United States, including the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini.

    While most adjustments were slight, the values rose by up to $35, with pre-owned iPad Pro models gaining the most value.

    The current trade-in values are as follows:

    • iPad Pro: Up to $555 (vs. $520)
    • iPad Air: Up to $275 (vs. $270)
    • iPad: Up to $190 (vs. $185)
    • iPad mini: Up to $215 (vs. $210)

    Apple’s trade-in website provides a full list of trade-in values, including those for Macs, iPhones, and Android smartphones.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple

  • British wireless carrier post provides hint as to iOS 18.2 release date

    British wireless carrier post provides hint as to iOS 18.2 release date

    Following up on Apple’s confirmation that the iOS 18.2 update will be released sometime in December, a specific release date may have surfaced.

    Based on a recent notice that British carrier EE provided to its customers, EE said it will be discontinuing an iPhone feature known as “Wi-Fi calling on other supported iCloud-connected devices” on December 9. The feature enables users to make Wi-Fi calls on devices like the iPad and Mac, even when their iPhone is not nearby.

    The second developer beta of iOS 18.2 released last week shipped with a new EE carrier settings version numbered 60.5.2, up from 59.5.1 on the first iOS 18.2 beta and iOS 18.1. The new carrier settings version removed the “Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices” toggle from the Wi-Fi Calling section in the Settings app on iPhones used by EE customers, in line with the carrier announcing that it will stop offering the feature next month.

    Given that most carrier setting updates are bundled with iOS updates, apart from bug fix releases, EE may have incidentally revealed a December 9 release date for the iOS 18.2 update.

    The iOS 18.2 update includes additional Apple Intelligence features for iPhone 15 Pro models and all iPhone 16 models, including Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration for Siri, and more. The update also adds a new Defaults section in the Settings app, an item location sharing feature in the Find My app, and more for compatible iPhone models.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and ee.co.uk

  • Iowa begins accepting digital IDs in Apple’s Wallet app

    Iowa begins accepting digital IDs in Apple’s Wallet app

    If you live in the hawkeye state, this could come in handy.

    Iowa residents can now att their their driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet for use at TSA checkpoints, venues, and businesses.

    On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation announced that residents could now add their state ID cards to their iPhones through the Wallet app. The department also pointed out that businesses can accept digital IDs via iOS apps like Tap2iD Mobile, VeriScan, and Mobile ID Verify.

    In September, California became the eighth state to begin rolling out support for IDs in the Wallet app. Arizona had been the first state and added support in May 2022.

    Albeit useful, a digital ID doesn’t replace carrying a physical license or identification card, as many locations will still require you to present a physical ID card.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and iowadot.gov

  • Epic Games storefront launches for EU users, brings Fortnite back to the iPhone in a regional capacity

    Epic Games storefront launches for EU users, brings Fortnite back to the iPhone in a regional capacity

    Following a four-year absence and legal squabble, Fortnite is returning to iPhones, albeit only for users within the European Union. The return is part of a broader launch of the Epic Games Store for iPhone, which went live last week in the EU.

    The return of the game to iOS is part of the EU Digital Markets Act ruling, which forced Apple to allow third-party app marketplaces on its platforms. EU-based users can download the Epic Games Store by visiting Epic’s website on their iPhones.

    The overarching legal issue began when Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 following a legal dispute between Epic and Apple over its in-app purchase system.

    Fortnite’s availability is undoubtedly the headline feature of the Epic. Prior to that, Fortnite on iOS made more than $700 million over two years, while Apple collected more than $100 million in revenue from the 30 percent cut that it took from Fortnite in-app purchases.

    Otherwise, the current game catalog in the iOS Epic Games Store is limited, featuring only a handful of Epic’s own titles such as Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe. However, the company says it plans to expand the library over time and is in discussions with third-party mobile developers.

    In the future, Epic and Apple will have to sort out Apple’s new fee structure, which includes a “Core Technology Fee” of €0.50 per install per year after the first million installs. This fee applies to both the Epic Games Store itself and the games within it, effectively doubling the charge for popular titles like Fortnite. The EU commission is currently investigating whether Apple’s new fee structure complies with the Digital Markets Act.

    The Epic Games Store app requires an iPhone running iOS 17.4 or later, and iPad users will have to wait until the release of iPadOS 18 later this year to access the store on their devices. Epic says it plans to expand the availability of its store to other regions where regulations permit, with Japan slated for a 2025 launch.

    If you have a chance to try the Epic Games storefront in the EU, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors and Epic Games